Oklahoma State University awarded $4M for autonomous vehicle research

Oklahoma State University Headlines, News and Media

Media Contact: Desa James

October 14, 2026

Dr. Joshua Li, an associate professor in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and his team have been awarded $4 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rural Autonomous Vehicles program.

The proposal, titled “Tribal & Rural Autonomous Vehicles for Efficiency, Livability, and Safety (TRAVELS),” aims to implement efficient, sustainable AV solutions for rural and tribal communities.

The TRAVELS program, with a total budget of $15 million, focuses on addressing the unique transportation needs and challenges of rural and tribal communities. Led by the University of Wisconsin–Madison, OSU holds the second-largest share of the budget at $4 million, with an additional $4 million made available through matching funds: approximately $2 million from AV partners and the remaining amount through in-kind support.

View the full article: News.OkState.edu