Advanced Mobility Innovation Lab (AMIL) and Beyond

As the United States navigates the Fourth Industrial Revolution - defined by the convergence of physical, digital, and biological technologies - STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education has become increasingly vital to preparing students for the future workforce. Transportation, a sector undergoing rapid technological transformation, is deeply intertwined with STEM and plays a critical role in shaping economic development, public safety, and access to essential services. Yet, many K-12 students, particularly in rural areas, lack exposure to high-quality STEM learning opportunities. The Advanced Mobility Innovation Lab (AMIL) was established through funding from the CR2C2 REE program to address this gap by providing portable, hands-on STEM experiences that fuse transportation technology demonstrations with project-based learning. This project will expand AMIL’s effort in projects R-EWD-1 and R-EWD-2, and increases the reach and impact by partnering with the University of Alabama’s robust K–12 STEM Education Outreach program, creating a collaborative model for multi-university engagement and STEM education. Together, these programs will deliver enriched STEM experiences that emphasize emerging transportation technologies, autonomous systems, and the STEM principles behind their development and operation. The initiative will culminate in two regional events - one in Alabama and one in North Carolina - featuring autonomous vehicle demonstrations and showcasing student learning outcomes.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.cr2c2.com/education-and-outreach/ewd-reeg-initiatives/project-r-ewd-3
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This is a STEM Education and Outreach Project.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Programmed
• Funding: $150,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348304

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Center for Transportation Research (CTR)
  Knoxville, TN  United States  37996

  Alabama Transportation Institute

  University of Alabama
  Tuscaloosa, AL  United States  35401
• Project Managers:

  Everett, Jerry

  Whiteside, Hope

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Center for Transportation Research
  Conference Center Building
  Knoxville, TN  United States  37996-4133

  Alabama Transportation Institute

  University of Alabama
  Tuscaloosa, AL  United States  35401
• Principal Investigators:

  Everett, Jerry

  Whiteside, Hope

• Start Date: 20260701
• Expected Completion Date: 20270630
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
• Source Data: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Research and Technology University Transportation Center Program, Department of Transportation, Washington, DC, United States 20590

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Education and training; Elementary school students; Technological innovations; Workforce development
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01982073
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348304
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 11 2026 3:46PM