Mobility @ MSU News

Dr. Tamara Bush, Interim Chair of Mechanical Engineering at MSU, is making transportation more accessible through her research on whole-body biomechanics. More specifically, her research analyzes seating mechanics, injury mechanics, vehicle interface research, universal design and clinical biomechanics. “I look at the needs of persons with disabilities,” Bush said. “Not only in terms of what …

Dr. Betty H.C. Cheng, Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at MSU, is developing techniques to address the assurance and trustworthiness of autonomous vehicles. While the future of autonomous vehicles is both promising and exciting, there are many obstacles to overcome for them to safely operate on the roadways. “With the increasing …

Dr. Daniel Morris, Associate Professor in the College of Engineering, is giving mobility platforms the ability to see better than humans. Autonomous vehicles need to have sensing capabilities on par with or better than humans in order to safely operate on roadways. “Sensing for mobility is an intriguing topic for me,” Morris said. “Humans accomplish …

Dr. Hamidreza Modares is working to make future roadways safer with his research in autonomous vehicles. Modares is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University. He is working to design safe control protocols for autonomous cars. “Autonomous systems can bring unprecedented benefits to mobility and transportation, and yet without …

Dr. Josh Siegel is creating safer, more reliable vehicles. Siegel is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Michigan State University. His research focuses on how to make contemporary and future vehicles more secure, reliable and efficient so transportation becomes more accessible, lower cost and safer. Siegel and his lab, …

Mark Wilson, professor of Urban and Regional Planning in the School of Planning, Design and Construction, is mapping out the future of autonomous vehicles with his research in sociomobility. Wilson and his colleagues in the research group, Autonomous Futures, are focused on how changes in technology can affect life. Specifically, they are studying how autonomous vehicles …

Dr. Mehrnaz Ghamami, assistant professor in the MSU College of Engineering, is a dedicated transportation engineer, planner and mathematical modeler who has taken a strong interest in sustainable transportation modes, including bikes and alternative fuel vehicles (AFV). Her research focuses on transportation systems analysis and planning, with applications in sustainable transportation and Intelligent Transportation Systems …

Dr. Peter Savolainen, MSU Foundation Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is utilizing his skills and capitalizing on the advantages that a large institution like MSU has to offer for his efforts in mobility research. Savolainen’s research examines the fundamental nature of user behavior, particularly how the safety and operations of transportation …

Dr. Rabindra Ratan is studying the ways transportation and communication intersect with his research in “carmmunication.” Ratan is an associate professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Media & Information. “I came to mobility research through an unconventional path,” Ratan said. “As a communication researcher, I realized that automobiles are a technology of …

Dr. Shaunak D. Bopardikar’s research is a driving force in Michigan State University’s mobility studies. Bopardikar is an assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in the College of Engineering. His research focuses on motion planning for one or more autonomous vehicles to ensure resilient operation. Bopardikar and his research team develop mathematical models …

Dr. Tongbin Teresa Qu, Associate Professor for the MSU School of Planning, Design and Construction, has dedicated her career to research in active transportation, sustainable transportation and big data in transportation and autonomous urbanism. Her passion for mobility research stems from her father who worked as a railway engineer, and her fascination with how – …

The future of communication relies on secure and efficient wireless networking, which Tongtong Li’s research aims to achieve. Li is a professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Michigan State University. She runs the Broadband Access Wireless Communication (BAWC) Laboratory at MSU, where her work has been continuously supported by the National …