WASHINGTON DC – High school students in California and Michigan will participate in a V@X High School Lab, a connected vehicle open, hands-on laboratory, where using a 3D printer, they will design and build their own connected and autonomous vehicles.
A new conference will be held on June 13 during the ITS America 2016 conference in San Jose, California, to introduce the program.
“ITS America 2016 San Jose brings with it a commitment to the community of San Jose by serving as an incubator for next generation ITS. By partnering with Mobile Comply and Square One Education Network, ITS America 2016 San Jose will bring this exciting field of next generation transportation to future engineers, entrepreneurs and financiers,” said Regina Hopper, president and CEO of ITS America. “This workshop will allow students to get a hands-on view of this burgeoning sector of the transportation industry as the need to attract and retain a talented workforce grows.”
V2X (Vehicle-to-X) refers to intelligent transportation systems where vehicles and infrastructure systems are interconnected, providing more precise knowledge of the traffic situation across the entire road network. Connected transportation promises increased safety, environmental, and economic benefits.
The Mobile Comply-Square One Education Network partnership brings together industry and education to develop a connected vehicle certification for teachers and students through classroom training, materials, and lessons. A full classroom curriculum is expected to be in place in Michigan for the 2016-2017 school year.
“With the structured and scalable curriculum Mobile Comply can provide, the hands-on applications Square One can impart, and ITS America leading this movement in intelligent transportation, together, we have a robust, consistent and multi-sector learning environment that is crucial for our future professionals entering into this space,” said Karl Klimek, executive director of Square One Education Network.
Square One Education Network is a Michigan-based nonprofit organization, providing grant funding to schools and other K-12 learning environments, enabling them to provide innovative, meaningful STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs.
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) advocates for industries marrying tech and transportation, putting transportation at the center of the Internet of Things (IoT). ITS America works to identify and drive public policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels to advance deployment of the technologies that will support data-driven integrated mobility.
“It has been a passion of ours to aid in the growth of the community by bringing awareness to the ever-evolving connected and autonomous vehicle environment,” said Elaina Farnsworth, CEO of Mobile Comply. “The training required for the future workforce to support the convergence of technologies needs to begin before students even enter the workforce. It is only through dedicated partnerships, such as those with ITS America and Square One that we can increase the visibility of intelligent transportation and promote mobility nationwide.”
Registration for the V2X Student-Led Lab is closed, but ITS America supports the next generation workforce by offering registration at no charge to eligible students. To qualify, a student must be an undergraduate currently enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university. To request free student registration, photocopy your valid Student ID and email it, along with your full name and address, school, phone number, and email address to Rachel Rettberg at [email protected]. Write, “I want to participate in ITS America 2016 San Jose through free student registration.”
Student Essay Competition The ITS America 2016 San Jose Student Essay Competition is sponsored by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). The winning student will receive a $1,000 cash prize, complimentary registration, and expenses-paid travel and hotel accommodations at the venue. Eligible students must be postsecondary graduate or undergraduate level currently enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university. For further info and requirements, visit ITSAmerica2016.org/SwRIStudentEssayCompetition.
Mobile Comply is a member of the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan.
