Ford Invests $75 Million in Robotics Research at University of Michigan

Ford Expands Robotics and Mobility Research at University of Michigan

Ford Motor Company is establishing a significant presence on the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus with a new $75 million robotics and mobility facility. This initiative will involve embedding 100 of the automaker’s researchers and engineers directly within the university environment.

Continued Collaboration

This venture builds upon an existing strong relationship between Ford and the University of Michigan. Ford currently stands as the university’s largest corporate donor, and the two organizations have previously collaborated on projects like the UM Ford Center for Autonomous Vehicles. However, this marks the first instance of Ford physically co-locating a portion of its team on a university campus.

Ford has clarified that this arrangement isn’t intended as an incubator, but rather as “an extension of our global research and advanced engineering network,” as stated to TechCrunch.

Facility Details and Access

The new facility, a 134,000 square-foot building spanning four floors, will provide Ford with dedicated space for robotics research. Furthermore, it will facilitate direct interaction between Ford personnel and students, benefiting both parties.

In addition to a fourth-floor laboratory, Ford will have access to a high-bay garage for the testing of autonomous vehicles. The proximity to the Mcity Test Facility allows for real-world environment simulations.

Ford was the pioneering automaker to conduct autonomous vehicle testing at Mcity, beginning in 2015.

Expanding Research Beyond Autonomous Driving

The scope of Ford’s research will extend beyond the development of self-driving technology.

Ken Washington, Ford’s CTO, emphasized on Tuesday the broader applications of robotics. The company aims to leverage robotics not only within vehicles but also in manufacturing processes, commercial vehicle solutions, and potentially even aerial robotics.

Robotics Partnerships

Ford’s initial foray into advanced robotics included a significant order in January 2020 from Agility Robotics for the Digit – a humanoid robot designed for operation in human-centric spaces.

Experiments with both the Digit and Boston Dynamics’ Spot, a quadrupedal robot capable of navigating challenging terrains, will be conducted at the new University of Michigan facility.

Leadership and Curriculum Development

Mario Santillo will lead Ford’s overall robotics and engineering research efforts. Tony Lockwood, Ford’s technical manager in AV Research, will oversee the autonomous vehicle-specific research.

Ford and the University of Michigan are jointly committed to developing an inclusive curriculum. This initiative aims to broaden opportunities for students from underserved backgrounds.

Alec Gallimore, the dean of Engineering at UM, stated that the new Robotics Institute is designed to prioritize equity. As part of this effort, students from historically Black colleges in Atlanta, Georgia, will have remote access to a Robotics 101 course, eliminating the prerequisite of calculus to ensure broader accessibility.

(Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Ford will have access to one high-bay garage space, alongside its fourth-floor lab.)

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