New Project: Use of MNCORS to Support AV Operations in Rural Minnesota

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have infrastructure requirements such as lane lines, centerlines and intersection signs to guide camera-enabled steering control functions. But many rural roads do not have lane markings or are unpaved, and intersections might be missing components to guide AVs.

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MnDOT’s Continuously Operating Reference Station (MnCORS) network, generally used for surveying, uses data from multiple GPS sources to identify precise locations. This localization capability can potentially compensate for the lack of rural infrastructure to accommodate AVs.

An evaluation of the MnCORS–GPS network’s applicability to AVs will support the development of new mobility technologies in underserved rural areas. The technology could also support AV use in urban settings, including snow-covered roads.

“Understanding the capabilities and limitations of these localization tools will help us determine their viability for compensating areas where infrastructure may be limited,” said Vic Lund, traffic engineer, St. Louis County Public Works. “The research will support our efforts to facilitate AV technologies equitably across Minnesota.”

Objectives

In a new project, researchers will use localization measurements from the MnCORS–GPS network to support AV operations on all types of roads in rural Minnesota. The project will also evaluate network capabilities regarding AV operations in urban locations, including on snow-covered roads.

The objectives are:

Select locations to demonstrate MnCORS–GPS capabilities to support AV operation
Develop a database of road coordinates and algorithms for real-time vehicle positioning
Test MnCORS–GPS enabled steering control on roads with lane markings and on unmarked roads
Collect MnCORS–GPS data in urban locations to refine understanding of localization capabilities
Characterize and demonstrate MnCORS–GPS capabilities on rural and snow-covered roads