Lawrence Tech, Michigan State Collaborate on High-Speed Autonomous Racing

Partnership places LTU researchers and students at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology development for the Indy Autonomous Challenge.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:22pm

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Lawrence Technological University has joined a global university team developing autonomous racecars capable of speeds up to 200 mph as part of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, one of the world's premier competitions advancing artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicle technology. The collaboration with Michigan State University and the PoliMOVE-MSU autonomous racing team allows LTU researchers and students to contribute to this high-speed autonomy research connected to the NTT IndyCar Series.

Why it matters

This partnership highlights Lawrence Tech's expertise in autonomous systems and AI, allowing its faculty and students to work on one of the most advanced autonomy projects in the world. The technologies developed through this high-speed racing competition will influence the safety and intelligence of future transportation systems.

The details

As part of the collaboration, LTU faculty and students will work alongside MSU researchers and the international PoliMOVE team to develop and refine the algorithms that allow the autonomous racecar to interpret sensor data, predict motion, and make split-second driving decisions at extreme speeds. LTU professors CJ Chung, Vijay John, and Eric Martinson will contribute to the development of the vehicle's autonomy software, focusing on perception systems.

  • The team's first race of the season is expected this summer as part of the NTT IndyCar Series, with Nashville anticipated as one of the early host cities.
  • The partnership was developed over the past eight months through discussions led by Patrick Nelson, LTU's dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Judson Herzer, director of Michigan State University Office of Mobility.

The players

Lawrence Technological University

One of only 13 independent, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States.

Michigan State University

A partner in the PoliMOVE autonomous racing team, which is part of the global university collaboration for the Indy Autonomous Challenge.

PoliMOVE

An internationally recognized research group at Politecnico di Milano that is part of the global team operating the Dallara AV-24 autonomous racecar.

CJ Chung

LTU professor of computer science and the founder of Robofest, who will contribute to the development of the vehicle's autonomy software.

Vijay John

LTU associate professor of computer science, whose research specializes in multimodal sensor fusion, computer vision, and autonomous driving.

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What they’re saying

“This collaboration highlights Lawrence Tech's strength in autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. Our faculty specialize in the software and algorithms behind autonomous vehicles, and this partnership allows our researchers and students to contribute to one of the most advanced autonomy projects in the world while gaining hands-on experience with the real challenges shaping the future of mobility.”

— Patrick Nelson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Lawrence Technological University

“Autonomous racing pushes artificial intelligence and robotics to their limits. When a vehicle is traveling at racing speeds, every decision must be made instantly and flawlessly. The technologies developed in this environment will ultimately influence the safety and intelligence of everyday transportation.”

— CJ Chung, Professor of Computer Science, Lawrence Technological University

“For our students, this is an extraordinary opportunity. They are not just studying autonomous systems. They are building and testing them in one of the most demanding engineering environments imaginable.”

— Vijay John, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Lawrence Technological University

What’s next

The team's first race of the season is expected this summer as part of the NTT IndyCar Series, with Nashville anticipated as one of the early host cities.

The takeaway

This partnership places Lawrence Tech researchers and students at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology development, allowing them to contribute to innovations that will shape the future of transportation safety and intelligence.