State officials Wednesday opened a 45 million dollar testing facility for self-driving vehicles in East Liberty.
The facility features roads and structures intended to replicate high-speed intersections, rural roads and urban areas. The goal is to give researchers and vehicle developers access to the driving autonomous cars will face. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.
Wireless communication, test tracks and underground power distribution come together at the simulated intersections that make up the facility. Car makers from around the country are expected to use it to try out new automation. Liuetenant.Governor Jon Husted says it benefits both the local economy and the rest of the state.
“When you have a facility like this, usually an area of about 200 miles around it is a location where a supplier could locate to serve the things that are going on here.”
The $45 million project is funded by the state, JobsOhio and Ohio State University.
