Driverless vehicle start-ups Zendrive, PolySync and Civil Maps are set to join University of Michigan (U-M) incubator TechLab at Mcity, to develop their driverless vehicle technologies in the Ann Arbor region of Michigan.

U-M Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE), in partnership with the U-M Mobility Transformation Center (MTC), stated that this new initiative would expand its innovative programme designed to drive the future of mobility.

MTC deputy director Carrie Morton said: “The U-M Mobility Transformation Center is pleased to welcome the autumn class of TechLab companies.

“We're excited to bring these disruptors and their innovative technologies into the ecosystem MTC is building with its partners to support commercially viable connected and automated mobility.”

MTC manages Mcity, which is reported to be the world’s first controlled environment particularly designed to test the potential of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.

Part of Mcity, TechLab is an experiential learning incubator for students interested in applying classroom learning to practical technology development.

U-M Center for Entrepreneurship executive director Thomas Frank said: “TechLab at Mcity represents a learning opportunity for engineering students that is uniquely available at U-M thanks to the commitment of faculty and the unparalleled resources of Mcity.

“We are expanding this programme because the demand from both emerging companies and students interested in participating is extremely high.

"We believe in the model of applied learning as a key driver for innovation.”

"We are expanding this programme because the demand from both emerging companies and students interested in participating is extremely high."

PolySync is an Oregon-based software company that develops operating system for the high-bandwidth, high-compute requirements of fully autonomous driving.

Civil Maps, a Californian software company, develops 3-D mapping technology for the autonomous vehicles to drive anywhere smoothly and safely.

The third company Zendrive is a Bay Area start-up founded by Google and Facebook veterans.

Image: A driverless vehicle going round a roundabout. Photo: courtesy of University of Michigan Regents.