5/13/2026: Prof. Zhao was interviewed by Fox 10 News and commented on the Waymo incident under extreme weather conditions.
Prof. Zhao and Prof. Norma featured on a FullCircle news:https://fullcircle.asu.edu/faculty/striving-to-save-lives-on-nations-roadways/
6/19/2024: Striving to Save Lives on Nation’s Roadways
Prof. Zhao and Prof. Norma featured on a FullCircle news:https://fullcircle.asu.edu/faculty/striving-to-save-lives-on-nations-roadways/
4/23/2024: A United Effort For A Safer Tomorrow
A documentary produced by the Arizona Commerce Authority showcases the remarkable collaborations facilitated by the Institute of Automated Mobility, including BELIV lab’s automated research vehicle. This video is featured at the 2024 ITS America Conference and Expo, hosted at the Phoenix Convention Center.
3/21/2024: Invited Talk at UPenn’s Autoware Center of Excellence
Prof. Zhao has been invited by Prof. Rahul Mangharam to present at the Safe Autonomy Seminar Series hosted by the University of Pennsylvania on March 21st, 2024. The topic of his talk is “Testing and Evaluating Automated Driving Systems for Safety and Efficiency”.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7176554643307515904
2/20/2024: Prof. Zhao is featured in a Documentary on self-driving cars
Prof. Zhao is featured in a Documentary about driverless cars in Phoenix, AZ. It is produced by reporter Namo Abdulla from NEXT, a global program focused on innovation. The program airs on Rudaw, an Associated Press partner channel, in several languages, including English, Arabic, Turkish, and Kurdish.
From Namo, “I really enjoyed producing this documentary program about Waymo‘s self-driving cabs. I loved taking a ride in a Waymo cab with Gabriel, a 70-year-old cab driver of Italian origin and see his priceless reaction. He says he will be “very sad” if he were to lose his Uber job. Our ride took an unexpected turn, making us wonder whether Waymo, a subsidiary of Google‘s parent company Alphabet, is watching its riders. I also had the pleasure of talking to Junfeng Zhao, a former General Motors (GM) engineer and now director of Battery ELectric & Intelligent Vehicle (BELIV) Lab at Arizona State University, for his insider insights. Will robotaxis render human drivers obsolete, or is there a balance between innovation and job opportunities? Enjoy watching and let me know what you think.”
12/13/2023: Prof. Zhao was interviewed by Belgian media during the visit of their Prime Minister to ASU
Minister-president Jan Jambon test in de Verenigde Staten een zelfrijdende taxi en is meteen helemaal verkocht. “Ik was helemaal op mijn gemak!”, zegt hij na de rit. Jambon ziet het ook bij ons helemaal zitten, al zal daarvoor de technologie nog iets beter ontwikkeld moeten worden. “Het zal zeker uitdagender zijn dan hier”, aldus Junfeng Zhao, die onderzoek doet naar zelfrijdende wagens aan de universiteit van Arizona.
12/03/2023: BELIV Lab becomes Autoware Center of Excellence
ASU BELIV Lab has become one of the Autoware Centers of Excellence. We are glad to join our colleagues around the globe and continue advancing automated vehicle technology together.
11/03/2023: BELIV Lab Receives Funding from Cox to Develop Intelligent Parking System
09/20/2023: BELIV research vehicle is on display next to Waymo and GM Cruise Robotaxi
Prof. Zhao has been invited as a speaker and panelist at the 30th ITS Arizona Conference. The BELIV research vehicle is on display next to Waymo and GM Cruise Robotaxi.
08/22/2023: Prof. Zhao interviewed by NPR affiliated KJZZ
Mark Brodie, a host at NPR-affiliated KJZZ radio station, sat down with Prof. Junfeng Zhao, and Marisa Walker, senior vice president at the Arizona Commerce Authority and executive director of the Institute of Automated Mobility to talk about why Arizona became a hub for driverless cars and what’s next for autonomous vehicles.
08/01/2023: NBC 12 News Coverage
NBC 12News broadcasted today’s interview about our research on developing autonomous vehicle safety evaluation with our partners. We find ourselves in the right place, at the right time, and working with the right people to tackle this challenging task.
Special thanks to Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, The Polytechnic School, Arizona Commerce Authority, Science Foundation Arizona
08/01/2023: BELIV Lab Receives Funding to Develop Operational Safety Testing Platform for Automated Vehicles
BELIV Lab receives research funding from the Arizona Commerce Authority and Science Foundation of Arizona to develop an Operational Safety Testing Platform for Automated Vehicles. This project is also sponsored by Arizona New Economy Initiative (NEI).
The funding received from the sponsors will provide the BELIV Lab with the necessary resources to accelerate research efforts, explore cutting-edge methodologies, and make significant advancements in autonomous vehicle safety.
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries.
Science Foundation Arizona is a 501(c)(3), public-private non-profit organization dedicated to diversifying and strengthening Arizona’s economy by supporting mission-driven research. The Arizona Commerce Authority and Science Foundation Arizona have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate industry-education collaboration and pursue external funding opportunities. Together, the two organizations will work to energize next-gen talent while growing and attracting industries of the future.
ASU’s contributions to the New Economy Initiative are supported by ongoing investment from the state, numerous industry partners and over 40 local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.
07/07/2023: ASU research ensures autonomous vehicle safety, reliability
Prof. Zhao and several Faculty members in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence and The Polytechnic School, both part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, are leading ASU’s efforts toward safe and reliable autonomous driving.
Report by ASU full circle
05/27/2023: Inspiring the next generation of engineers
EGR530 Graduate students demonstrate final projects to encourage college-bound students to pursue engineering careers
ASU FullCircle report
05/03/2023: BELIV Platform arrives at ASU
We are excited to announce that the BELIV platform has just arrived on our campus! With the arrival of this platform, we are opening up a world of research opportunities in the fields of autonomous driving, electric vehicles, and smart mobility.
08/16/2022: BELIV Lab is launched by Dr. Junfeng Zhao
Dr. Junfeng Zhao joins Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University and launches Battery ELectric & Intelligent Vehicle (BELIV) lab.
