Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK to Provide Transport at Michigan State University
Karsan continues to add up to its name in the international arena with innovative solutions in its product range, offering modern mass transportation solutions suitable to the mobility needs of the era. Developed by Karsan together with California-based technology company ADASTEC and released to the market as the first serial production driverless autonomous vehicle of Europe and America, Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK has been sent to the Michigan State University (MSU), a respectable university in the USA. Being preferred as an essential step of the smart mobility ecosystem studies within the University, Autonomous e-ATAK is going to be used in the transport of the faculty members, students and visitors of the Michigan State University.
Okan BAŞ, the CEO of Karsan, said:With our vision of being one step ahead of others in the future of the mobility, we direct the future of transportation with our products that we have developed as Karsan. We are proud that our vehicle, Autonomous e-ATAK, will be used in the enormous campus with real traffic conditions of Michigan State University, one of the USA's significant universities where the pulse of the automotive and technology world beats.
As the sole independent multiple brand vehicle manufacturer of Turkey, Karsan has sent Autonomous e-ATAK, which is its first bus with Level 4 autonomous properties and ready to the real road conditions of America and Europe, to one of the leading universities of the USA, Michigan State University (MSU). Within the scope of university’s objective to form a smart mobility ecosystem, Autonomous e-ATAK will be used to transport faculty members, staff, students and visitors of Michigan State University , after extensive testing and federal approval. Autonomous e-ATAK will operate non-stop on a 4-kilometer route in the university and be used in the universities’ data collection and improvement studies on electric and autonomous vehicles.
Michigan State University Unveils the Autonomous Bus
Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK was decorated with a white logo of a Spartan, the university’s mascot, and was introduced in a news conference Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. Together with the promotion, a test drive was also held with the participation of the press. The sensor technologies of Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK that detects its surroundings and pedestrians without the need for a driver as well as its several innovative technologies such as advanced radar technology and thermal cameras drew attention of the students. The speed of Autonomous e-ATAK, which will be at 25 kilometers speed per hour during the test stage in which 630 travels will be performed, will increase to 40 kilometers per hour in spring semester 2022 once testing is complete.
In developing Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK bus, Karsan partnered with ADASTEC which delivers the most advanced Level-4 Automation Platform for full size commercial vehicles. Dr. Ali Ufuk Peker, CEO of ADASTEC was also present during the test drive and stated that the data collected from the test drives would contribute to making the ideal driving adjustments for Autonomous e-ATAK.
Michigan State University President, Samuel Stanley Jr., said:The mobility space is a core focus at MSU and we continue to seek out partnerships that accelerate our research and development efforts and enhance the mobility landscape not only on our campus but throughout our beautiful state and the country. This new autonomous bus symbolizes the types of advancements we’ve made at Michigan State to be on the cutting edge of the transportation of tomorrow.
This article was originally published by Karsan.
