The University of Illinois hosts various labs and research groups spanning multiple disciplines that conduct autonomous vehicle research. These groups focus on all areas of autonomous vehicle production, design, and implementation. Students can learn about autonomous vehicles through academic programs from introductory to graduate levels across many fields like computer science, law, and mathematics. The University aims to advance autonomous vehicle technology and produce innovations to help self-driving vehicles be implemented faster through its extensive research.

1. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
OFFICE OF CORPORATE RELATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
528 East Green Street, Suite 202, Champaign, IL 61820
T: (217) 244-3606 | corporaterelations@illinois.edu
LABS AND RESEARCH GROUPS
The University hosts various labs and research groups
spanning multiple disciplines that take part in autonomous
vehicle research. They are international in scope and focus
on all areas of autonomous vehicle production, design, and
implementation. Collaboration with businesses drives many of
the projects that these groups undertake, helping researchers
gauge the potential industry impact of their findings.
EVENTS
Student and University-led events regularly exhibit innovation
in autonomous vehicle research on campus, whether it be
a product of research groups, student organizations, or
collaborative projects between faculty and students. Corporate
sponsorship and participation in these events is encouraged,
as it fosters a positive relationship between businesses and
potential employees in students or potential research partners
in faculty.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Students at the University of Illinois have the opportunity to
learn autonomous vehicle design and theory at all stages of
their academic careers — from introductory to graduate-level
courses. Students from disciplines as diverse as Computer
Science, Law, Mathematics, and Finance all take interest in
different aspects of this technology. Below are examples of
academic programs that teach students how to tackle the
subject from these various perspectives.
corporaterelations.illinois.edu
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT
A predicted 23 million autonomous vehicles will be on the road by 2035. This influx of self-driving cars brings a massive
investment opportunity for businesses, from insurance agencies to taxi and ride-sharing services. The University of
Illinois consistently produces insight and innovation on the cutting edge of autonomous vehicle research in order to push
this technology forward and get self-driving vehicles on the road faster. Interdisciplinary researchers at Illinois challenge
themselves to advance this burgeoning field, from faculty who collaborate on widely-distributed textbooks and sit on
international committees, to students who develop the skills to create innovative solutions to problems in the industry.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a pre-eminent public research university with a land-grant mission that pioneers
innovative research that tackles global problems. The University offers transformative learning experiences in and out of the classroom
designed to produce alumni who desire to make a significant societal impact. Below is just a sampling of what the University has to
offer.

2. LABS AND RESEARCH GROUPS
Center for Connected and Automated Transportation -
The University of Illinois is partnering with the University of
Michigan Ann Arbor and four other universities on this new project
funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Center
aims to conduct research on autonomous vehicle technology and
advanced mobility policy, as well as training the future workforce
that will support this new industry.
Advanced Digital Sciences Center (ADSC; Singapore) -
go.illinois.edu/ADSC
Established in 2009, this University of Illinois installation in
Singapore conducts research on information technologies including
those related to autonomous vehicles. One of the lab’s main goals
is the commercialization and promotion of their technologies in the
Asian market.
Aerospace Engineering Research Labs -
go.illinois.edu/AerospaceEngineering
These labs conduct research in numerous areas of aerospace
engineering, from computational aeroacoustics to high energy
lasers. Their research groups push the boundaries of autonomous
flight technology—for example, they created an autonomous bird-
like robot that can perch itself on a human hand, the first of its kind.
Intelligent Robotics Laboratory -
go.illinois.edu/IntelligentRobotics
Established in 2015, this lab works on autonomous vehicles in a
wide range of settings, from collision-avoiding drones to robots
that assist the elderly. The lab hosts a large collaboration of
professors and students from disciplines that range from Aerospace
Engineering to Psychology.
Advanced Controls Research Laboratory (ACRL) -
go.illinois.edu/ACRL
The ACRL focuses on problems in mathematical control theory. The
lab closely collaborates with industry and government laboratories
in order to make their research as applicable to real-world problems
as possible. Their projects range from aerospace and boat
autonomy to robotic surgery.
TERRA-MEPP -
go.illinois.edu/TERRA_MEPP
TERRA-MEPP (Transportation Energy Resource from Renewable
Agriculture — Mobile Energy-Crop Phenotyping Platform) is
an autonomous robot that drives in between rows of crops and
monitors plant growth in order to improve farm efficiency. The
project is a collaboration between Illinois, Cornell University, and
Signetron Inc., and is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department
of Energy.
Computational Risk Management Research Lab -
go.illinois.edu/CRM
This lab uses advanced computational technology to solve risk
management issues at insurance and financial institutions. They
encourage professionals to provide them with challenging actuarial
problems, and they regularly head projects sponsored by the
Actuarial Foundation and the Society of Actuaries.
EVENTS
CSL Student Conference -
go.illinois.edu/CSLConference
This student-led conference is hosted by the Coordinated Science
Laboratory and co-hosted by major corporations like IBM, Roche,
NVIDIA, and Huawei. The conference features keynote speakers from
corporations and demonstrations of student projects that regularly
feature autonomous vehicles.
Engineering Open House (EOH) -
go.illinois.edu/uiucEOH
EOH is an annual two-day exposition by the College of Engineering
that features exhibits, competitions, and lectures showcasing the
innovation and ingenuity of Illinois students. Autonomous vehicles are
often highlighted, and this year’s EOH included a demonstration of an
autonomous indoor drone. Businesses participate in this event both
as sponsors and as producers of exhibits.
COURSES AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Actuarial Science Degrees in the Department of Mathematics -
go.illinois.edu/Actuarial
This program offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
The program produces graduates who enter the actuarial and
risk management professions, with around 300 students enrolling
every year. Students in this program work closely with faculty
and corporate partners conducting research in the field, including
research concerning the actuarial implications of autonomous vehicle
deployment.
Illinois Cyber Security Scholars Program (ICSSP) -
go.illinois.edu/Cyber
Established in 2009, this program grants full tuition waivers and
internships to undergraduates in Law and Engineering who are
interested in pursuing cybersecutiry careers. Successful applicants
are required to participate in a summer internship at a federal
government and/or national laboratory.
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) 110: “Introduction to
Electronics” -
go.illinois.edu/ECE110
This required course for Electrical Engineering and Computer
Engineering majors – enrolling 2,346 students in Fall 2016 – includes
a final project that requires students to create a small autonomous
car.
Computer Science (CS) 598: “Autonomous Vehicles for AI”-
In this special topics course, students study the specifics of
pedestrian, object, and traffic sign detection for autonomous vehicles
and how to improve these systems. The class ran experiments with
a self-driving car from AutonomouStuff, a Morton, Illinois based
company.
Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Systems -
go.illinois.edu/SRIS
This program from the Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering (CEE) offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees
for CEE students. The program produces graduates to work at the
system level in order to ensure the sustainability and resiliency of
interconnected infrastructure, including the smart roads, stoplights,
and street signs required for self-driving cars.
For a comprehensive list of programs please contact the Office of
Corporate Relations at corporaterelations@illinois.edu
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES HIGHLIGHTS