Skip to main content

Driverless cars to be focus of new Texas A&M research facility

Texas A&M University has announced plans to build a new research campus focusing on several new technologies, including driverless and connected vehicles, robotics and large scale testing, as well as smart power grids and water systems. University chancellor John Sharp announced the US$150 million investment in the centre that will serve as a hub to help companies move ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace while also offering a new path toward a college degree.
May 4, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Texas A&M University has announced plans to build a new research campus focusing on several new technologies, including driverless and connected vehicles, robotics and large scale testing, as well as smart power grids and water systems.

University chancellor John Sharp announced the US$150 million investment in the centre that will serve as a hub to help companies move ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace while also offering a new path toward a college degree.

The Riverside Campus, at a former WWII airbase, already houses Texas A&M’s transportation, will be renamed the Rellis Gateway Centre and will include a cluster of seven new buildings and test beds to encourage the private sector to develop secure research facilities adjacent to the site.

An education centre will offer 4-year degrees to students not admitted to Texas A&M University through affiliations with other universities in the Texas A&M System and would also be available for continuing education, short courses and other professional development programs.

Related Content

  • June 8, 2016
    TTI launches Smart Intersection initiative
    The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), Texas A&M University and the City of College Station are joining forces with seven key private sector companies to help design, develop and test safer, smarter intersections, where vehicles alert drivers to stalled traffic miles before the queues begin – and suggest alternate routes. They say the ability to detect traffic flow and volume, analyse complex traffic data in real time, calculate multiple route alternatives and send the resulting recommendations to
  • April 6, 2021
    TTI opens research centre in Texas 
    Neology centre is an ITS test site for tolling plus connected and autonomous vehicles
  • January 25, 2017
    Texas alliance designated as US DOT automated vehicle proving ground
    The Texas Automated Vehicle (AV) Proving Ground is one of ten sites designated as an automated vehicle proving ground. Formed by an alliance that includes the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), other members are the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Transportation Research (CTR), and 32 municipal and regional partners. The Texas group plans to offer a full and varied range of testing environments, from
  • March 16, 2015
    US updates ITS strategy for Connected Vehicle deployment
    Jon Masters looks at the USDOT’s new ITS Strategic Plan for the next five years. Emphasis and direction for the next five years of Government led ITS research in the United States has been framed within a new ITS Strategic Plan. The US Department for Transportation’s (USDOT) ITS Joint Program Office (JPO) published the report at the tail end of 2014 after concluding a two-year ITS industry consultation process. The Plan identifies a vision to transform the way society moves and the ITS JPO’s aim of advancin