The American Center for Mobility was buzzing with tech talk, EV energy, roadway infrastructure, ADAS testing and autonomous vehicle (AV) action at ACM’s annual Demo Day on April 28, 2026. Kicking off with a welcome to the nearly 100 industry guests and a recap of ACM’s positive momentum (especially in recent years), the day reflected the ecosystem of leaders who are testing, collaborating on and bringing to market the next generation of mobility and related support technologies.
Whether in ACM’s resident ‘garages’, which are 90% leased, or on the 2.5 mile, high-speed AV highway loop, some of the sharpest entrepreneurial minds in the country are individually and collectively contributing to Michigan’s founding vision for the 500-acre campus of ACM: to keep mobility advancements centered in the state and strengthening our history as an arsenal of innovation, notably in automotive mobility.
Here are just a few ACM residents eager to show and tell their story on Demo Day:
- Motmot (the name pays double homage to Detroit’s Motown moniker), started in 2022 by Elliot Smith and Zack Koslowski to help municipalities identify and repair water pipe infrastructure before a water main break, demonstrated their underwater robotics technology. (Interesting fact: one of Detroit’s oldest water pipes – still in use – is made of wood and dates back to the late 1800’s.)
- Explaining how to drive securely in the mobility market, cybersecurity partner Drivesec’s discussions centered on securing the software associated with autonomous and electric vehicles and the Internet of Things.
- There was no waiting for the (autonomous) bus, thanks to Retrospect’s demo display.
- Shedding light on safety, the Michigan Technological University (MTU) team demonstrated adaptive beam lighting and work-zone occupant detection in the ACM tunnel’s tricky ‘sun-dark-sun’ transitions. With some of the best engineering minds in Michigan’s higher-education system, we’re pleased that MTU has had a home at ACM as a resident partner since 2024.
- Guided soft target testing, Powered by MTU, also drew attention, including the use of an AB Dynamics Soft Motorcycle 360 target to support ADAS and AV validation in realistic, repeatable scenarios recognized by vehicle sensor systems, including cameras, radar and lidar.
A familiar theme of Demo Day is that ACM convenes mobility talent and ingenuity in Michigan, but not all participants are from here; ACM draws them. For example, speaker Ashley Edwards came from North Carolina representing his Finland-based employer, Kempower, Inc., to talk about its DC Fast-Charger, an all-in-one solution with dynamic power management. Thanks for making the trip, Ashley!
There are too many stories to share in this round-up, but it’s important to acknowledge the many other Demo Day exhibitors and sponsors who contributed to the event’s success: a2Tech360 powered by Ann Arbor SPARK, 4activeSystems, Deepview Corp., GeneSys Elektronic, New Eagle, SAE Industry Technologies Consortia, Snowbotix, SWIFT ACT, Technical Professionals Group (TPG), and VicOne.
If the power of Demo Day has piqued your interest about the advantages of aligning with the American Center for Mobility, either as a resident or industry partner, or as a place to host a unique marketing activation event, please visit us in person for a tour. Contact Kevin.Kelly@acmwillowrun.org to learn more.
