One of the world’s leading companies in the fields of vehicle engineering, research and product testing, HORIBA MIRA, has joined forces with Coventry University in the UK to launch a brand new automotive research center that will be dedicated to developing intelligent, connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.
The new Center for Connected & Autonomous Automotive Research will pioneer and test new developments to support the rapid growth within the global intelligent mobility sector and address future transport needs. The center is located on an existing site at the heart of MIRA Technology Park near Nuneaton in Warwickshire, which is part of the UK’s former Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) headquarters. Its core objectives are to:
• Provide an environment to simulate, test and evaluate the security and safety of connected autonomous vehicles (CAV);
• Undertake research to accelerate the development of new products and services in the CAV segment;
• Produce a pipeline of talent to support growth of the CAV segment.
An initial team of up to 20 academic staff members and doctoral research students from Coventry University alongside HORIBA MIRA’s engineering and test teams will be working on kick-off activities and projects at the center, which will also benefit from a range of information and communications technology and specialist laboratories. With in-house facilities combining the real and virtual worlds for CAV, the center will use a suite of simulators that interact with ‘living laboratory’ environments.
This latest strategic investment builds on existing collaborative activity between the two partners, including work with other leading industry players to test connected vehicle technology in real-world conditions; a project exploring how connectivity will help drivers reach their destinations more efficiently and conveniently; and wide-ranging doctoral research activity exploring, among other things, technologies that make journeys safer, cleaner and smarter, as well as the development of more resilient cybersecurity systems within modern vehicles.
“We are incredibly pleased to announce this major expansion in our partnership with Coventry University,” said Dr George Gillespie, CEO of HORIBA MIRA. “The new center will provide a hub for rapidly expanding the scope of the engineering and test services we offer our clients within CAV, and an environment where we can learn with our clients to ensure these new services are tailored to their needs in this fast-evolving technology area. The launch of this facility reiterates our commitment to transforming our business to meet the challenges and opportunities provided by the rapid growth of connected and autonomous vehicles.”
