PPG Partners with University of Michigan’s Mcity for Autonomous Vehicle Testing, Research
January 16 2018 - 9:43AM
Business Wire
Company becomes first paint and coatings manufacturer to support
world-renowned autonomous testing facility
PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced its partnership with the
University of Michigan’s (U-M’s) Mcity, a public-private
partnership that brings together industry, government and academia
to improve transportation safety, sustainability and accessibility
for the benefit of the society. Mcity’s work includes operating the
Mcity Test Facility, which is the world’s first purpose-built
proving ground for testing autonomous vehicles, connected-vehicle
systems and related technologies. PPG is the first paints and
coatings manufacturer to join the Mcity partnership.
A leader in advanced paints and coatings technologies for the
automotive industry, PPG is developing a broad portfolio of
coatings to improve functionality and enable broad deployment of
autonomous vehicles. These developments include exterior coatings
that enhance vehicle visibility to radar and light detection and
ranging (LIDAR) systems, as well as easy-to-clean coatings that
help prevent obstruction of autonomous vehicle sensors. PPG will
highlight these technologies at the North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS) Jan. 14-20 at Cobo Center in Detroit.
The Mcity Test Facility, which opened in 2015, was developed by
U-M with support from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The facility aims to re-create a range of operating challenges
faced by vehicles on the road with simulated urban and suburban
environments. Sitting on a 32-acre site on U-M’s North Campus, the
facility offers more than 16 acres of roads and traffic
infrastructure, including approximately five lane-miles of roads
with intersections, traffic signals, street lighting, sidewalks,
fire hydrants, simulated buildings and obstacles like construction
barriers and pedestrian crash dummies. In addition to operating the
test facility, Mcity also funds academic research and works with
its partners to deploy connected and automated vehicles in Ann
Arbor and Southeast Michigan.
“Autonomous vehicle technology offers numerous real-world
advantages, and the ability to test such technologies safely and
thoroughly is essential for proving the viability of advanced
mobility solutions,” said Huei Peng, director, Mcity. “Our
state-of-the-art facility offers a controlled environment for
manufacturers like PPG to develop and hone the capabilities of
autonomous vehicles and related technologies, while also providing
them access to a variety of valuable tools and resources. We’re
excited to have PPG be part of this journey.”
Added Gary Danowski, PPG vice president, Automotive OEM
Coatings, “Specialized coatings will play an integral role in the
development of safe and reliable driverless vehicles. We are
enthusiastic about this partnership and are always actively seeking
additional R&D partners as we continue to explore new
possibilities in emerging vehicle technologies.”
The agreement provides PPG with access to resources such as
Mcity lab and project data; research and deployment assets; an
independent forum of suppliers, manufacturers and end users;
university expertise related to legal, regulatory and social
issues; and Mcity research review meetings and the annual Mcity
Congress.
To learn more, visit mcity.umich.edu or
newsroom.ppg.com/detroitautoshow18.
PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the
paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for
more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve
our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find
the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate
and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of
$14.3 billion in 2016. We serve customers in construction, consumer
products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets.
To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.
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Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
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PPG Media Contacts:Automotive OEM CoatingsMike Millar,
+1-248-641-2237millar@ppg.comorCorporate CommunicationsGreta Edgar,
+1 412-434-2445edgar@ppg.comwww.ppg.com
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