DETROIT—Toyota-affiliated supplier Denso International America Inc. is opening a new research and development lab at the University of Michigan, the company said at the Detroit auto show.
The lab will focus on advanced research of autonomous driving and driver assistance systems with artificial intelligence. The Denso lab will feature high-speed computing and high-capacity data storage environments as well as a advanced driving simulator.
It's unclear how much Denso invested in the lab.
Twelve UM students have been selected to participate in research projects, starting this month through the end of the year, Denso said in a news release.
The opening of the lab expands Denso's collaborative work with local universities. In December, the supplier launched a car sharing study on the campus of UM-Dearborn. The study, called MDrive, is designed to allow Denso to learn what technologies are most needed in future vehicles, particularly those used in car sharing.
Three Ford Focus electric vehicles, provided by Ford Motor Co., will be available to 30 pre-selected UM-Dearborn students to drive anywhere they wish in the U.S. Denso will collect vehicle data through real-time on-board equipment and cameras. Students are required to complete surveys following the use of the vehicles along with participating in weekly discussion boards about the future of car-sharing, Denso said in a release.