Data-Driven ADS Testing at ACM Showcases Real On-Road Scenarios
The American Center for Mobility (ACM) hosted a focused advanced driver assistance and automated driving (ADS/ADAS) testing and demonstration program for delegates from the City of Detroit, Detroit City Airport, AECOM, and UMTRI. The session spotlighted how ACM turns on-road challenges into controlled tests that help make automated mobility safer and smarter.
At the heart of the work is ACM’s data-driven method: collect on-road data in Detroit’s urban environment, identify edge cases and safety-critical situations (e.g., jaywalking pedestrians, abrupt driver maneuvers, work zones, blocked lanes, obscured signage, and frequent emergency vehicle activity), and then recreate those scenarios under controlled conditions, with simulated rain and fog, on ACM’s proving ground. This approach enables rigorous, equivalent evaluation and faster iteration on safety performance.
“ACM has adopted a comprehensive, data-driven approach to collecting and analyzing road and traffic data to identify critical driving scenarios that challenge the safe operation of ADS. We have used our fully instrumented AVs to collect real road data from Detroit’s shuttle deployment route to model the nature and frequency of these scenarios. Our commitment to ADS safety is backed by Michigan Tech’s engineering support team and our combined expertise in managing complex ADS/ADAS safety testing.”
— Dr. Sushanta Das, VP, R&D, American Center for Mobility
“The event exceeded my expectations by powerfully demonstrating the real value that ACM and MTU are delivering to the City of Detroit and USDOT through this ADS demonstration grant. We saw tangible examples of how automated vehicle technology is advancing mobility and safety, fulfilling the vision of the FHWA ADS grant and reinforcing America’s leadership. The ACM and MTU teams delivered a model demonstration to be proud of. It was comprehensive yet accessible through hands-on visuals, testing demonstrations, and clear explanations by the team. By breaking complex AV safety challenges into practical, testable components and grounding them in real-world data, the work quantifies AV readiness, identifies safety concerns, and advances a safe and transparent future for automated mobility.”— Tony Geara, City of Detroit
During the event, ACM and the engineering team from Michigan Technological University (MTU) executed Euro NCAP’s Pedestrian Automated Emergency Braking (PAEB) scenarios and evaluated a safe and lawful maneuver in response to an approaching emergency vehicle , both run in simulated rain and fog to ensure realism and consistency. These activities are part of a broader effort linked to the USDOT ADS Demonstration program, in which Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation launched a shuttle pilot to explore how automated technology can help residents facing mobility barriers. ACM’s role includes turning the program’s on-road learnings into testable scenarios that accelerate safety assessments for autonomous shuttles.
Why it matters: uncommon edge case events put the most stress on automated systems. ACM models how often they occur by place, time, and season, then recreates them in a controlled setting so industry and public sector partners can measure performance, benchmark progress, and lower risk before deployment on public roads.
What’s next: ACM will continue to collaborate with public agencies, research institutions, and industry partners to expand the library of scenario-based tests and environmental conditions, advancing a shared goal of safer, more reliable automated mobility for all.
For inquiries about ADS/ADAS testing and our MTU engineering support, contact ACM.