An open-source digital twin developed at the University of Michigan’s test center for connected and autonomous vehicles and technologies is now available to the public.

The virtual representation of a physical environment engineered to enable simulation and testing is reportedly the first open-source digital twin for mobility systems testing, including autonomous driving. The tool devised at the Mcity Test Facility is intended to provide a faster, safer and less costly means of testing autonomous and connected vehicle software.

The platform works with the TeraSim open-source traffic simulator developed by the researchers. The system introduces pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers, and generates safety-critical events like potential collisions. Using traffic behavioral models calibrated with real-world data, it simulates both normal and high-risk driving scenarios.

Users can test their autonomous algorithms in virtual and mixed reality environments by connecting to Mcity’s cloud-based digital infrastructure. Using 5G wireless communications, they can control physical vehicles and traffic signals on Mcity’s test streets and receive real-time data in return.

A digital recreation of the Mcity Test Facility using the TeraSim platform. Source: Darian Hogue, Mcity

“What differentiates the Mcity digital twin is that it supports virtual testing, while remote use involves testing a physical vehicle at our physical test track from a remote location,” said Mcity director Henry Liu.

The Mcity Test Facility itself features a simulated downtown area with urban streets, traffic signals and traffic signs, multiple road surfaces with diverse road markings and crossing types, and a 1,000-foot straightaway with access ramps.