Autonomous Electric Bus route launches at Michigan State

A full-size electric automated bus has begun running on Michigan State University’s central campus, marking one of the first federally compliant SAE Level-4 autonomous buses operating in the United States. According to the company’s announcement, the bus began passenger service along a 5.12-mile route on August 25, providing free transportation for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the surrounding community. The firm operating the bus, ADASTEC Corp, claims this is the first Level-4 automated bus in the country to meet both Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements, highlighting a regulatory milestone for autonomous public transit vehicles.

This deployment forms part of a three-year research agreement between ADASTEC and Michigan State University (MSU), integrating ADASTEC’s flowride.ai software platform with a connected vehicle infrastructure that includes nine new cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) roadside units. This network facilitates sophisticated intersection-to-bus communication, enabling the vehicle to navigate a mixed-traffic environment inclusive of pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. By leveraging real-time data from traffic lights and multiple sensors - such as LiDAR, radar, and cameras - the autonomous bus aims to operate reliably under varied weather conditions while maintaining a speed limit of 25 mph on campus roads.

MSU’s Director of Mobility and Innovation, Judd Herzer, described the initiative as more than a transit service, characterizing it instead as a “living laboratory” that combines cutting-edge technology with practical research and learning opportunities. The automated bus, named SpartanXpress following a campus contest, is designed to serve as an educational platform across university disciplines by providing access to real-time operational data alongside safe and sustainable mobility. “we are showing what's possible when technology, accessibility, and sustainability come together in one service” said ADASTEC’s CEO, Dr. Ali Peker in the statement, also citing the vehicle’s adaptability in harsh weather and daily service as reflections on its practical value.

The company has previously deployed on smaller 2.5 to 3.3-mile routes equipped with V2X-integrated traffic signals operating since 2021, with a human driver onboard as a precaution. The current deployment expands on these earlier routes, extending the length and adding vehicle-to-infrastructure technology that enhances interaction with multiple traffic signals and pedestrian crossings.

Recent progress in remote teleoperation technologies - such as Guident Corporation’s teleoperation of an ADASTEC-equipped bus from a control center hundreds of miles away - suggests a trend toward layered control strategies to handle complex real-world scenarios beyond fully autonomous driving.

The service schedule on the current MSU route runs weekdays between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, connecting key campus locations including commuter parking lots, academic buildings, and cultural venues. This pilot program - taking place right here in the Midwest - represents an intersection of innovation, education, and public service that could inform future public transportation developments across the country and beyond.