UGA joins national travel center to bring self-driving tech to rural areas

University of Georgia researchers are taking part in research as part of a push to expand autonomous vehicles to rural and tribal communities nationwide.

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It’s part of a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Tribal and Rural Autonomous Vehicles for Efficiency, Livability and Safety — or TRAVELS Center includes six partnering institutions: Oklahoma State University, the University of Washington, Morgan State University, Northern Oklahoma College, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Georgia.

UGA will receive about $3.6 million to bring autonomous vehicle technology to rural Georgia.

UGA scholars will collaborate with the other five universities, 34 state transportation agencies and key private partners to help solve transportation woes in rural Georgia.

“The University of Georgia is honored to be a part of this national effort and help lead the charge on AV research and applications,” said Stephan Durham, assistant dean for student success and outreach in UGA’s College of Engineering. “I’m confident this project is only the start of many other and larger projects in this growing field.”

More than one-fifth of Georgians live in a rural area with transportation challenges despite an affordable cost of living.

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