AV technology company May Mobility has launched the Detroit Automated Driving Systems (ADS) pilot, in collaboration with the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI) and the Michigan Mobility Collaborative (MMC).
The service, named Accessibili-D, aims to enhance transportation accessibility for Detroit residents with disabilities or those aged 62 and older. The pilot began on Thursday, June 20, and the service will be available to select residents through 2026.
The pilot features three autonomous vehicles (AVs), including two wheelchair-accessible ones, to help participants access healthcare facilities, shopping centers, jobs and social and recreational activities.
The free service covers 68 stops in an 11-square-mile area of downtown Detroit. It is operational Monday and Wednesday through Friday from 8am to 6pm, and on weekends from 8am to 1 pm. Interested individuals must submit an expression of interest form and will be contacted to enroll. Once enrolled, they can book rides through the Accessibili-D app, powered by Via, or by calling (734) 209-3408.
“Many Detroiters have trouble getting around due to the costs of owning a car or mobility challenges arising from age or disabilities,” said Edwin Olson, CEO and co-founder of May Mobility. “We’re excited to show how autonomous technology can help in Detroit, where we will be launching our largest service area to date.”
In July 2023, the Detroit City Council approved a US$2.4m contract with May Mobility to provide the Accessibili-D service. May Mobility and MMC have conducted outreach programs to educate potential riders about the AVs and identify key locations in downtown Detroit that will best serve the community. Based on feedback, the companies say that plans are in place to expand the service zone with additional stops and vehicles in the coming months.
Extensive testing was conducted by May Mobility in partnership with the University of Michigan’s Mcity and the American Center for Mobility (ACM) to prepare for the launch. Testing protocols included the Mcity Safety Assessment Program and a testing process developed by ACM, simulating real urban scenarios.
May Mobility’s AVs use multi-policy decision-making (MPDM) technology to navigate city streets; each vehicle is equipped with lidar, radar and cameras that provide a 360° view. MPDM technology is designed to enable the AV to simulate thousands of potential scenarios per second, for safe and efficient travel.
“We’re thrilled to launch the Accessibili-D autonomous shuttle service, a vital step toward enhancing mobility for our older residents and those with disabilities. This free, innovative service will provide safe and efficient transportation, greatly improving access to essential services for residents who have faced difficulty navigating their needs in the city,” said Tim Slusser, chief of the Office of Mobility Innovation at the City of Detroit.
The Detroit ADS pilot is May Mobility’s 14th deployment, with other operations taking place in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Minnesota; Miami, Florida; Arlington, Texas; and Sun City, Arizona.