VEMI Lab

Last week, our Lab Director, Dr. Richard Corey, presented at the 7th annual Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center Conference at the University of Maine! Dr. Corey presented on Autonomous & Connected Vehicles, highlighting some of the major research we recently conducted with support from the Maine DOT, and discussing the next steps that we plan to take studying human interaction and communication with AVs. As always, it was a delight to attend the conference and to host new and familiar faces to check out our lab following the sessions!

We are excited to share that our paper, “Does trust even matter? Behavioral evidence for the disconnect between people’s subjective trust and decisions to use autonomous vehicles”, has been published in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour! Congratulations to VEMI Co-Author’s Dr. Paul D. S. Fink, Justin Brown, Karalyn K., and Dr. Nicholas Giudice. The paper explores the relationship between trust and behavior related to autonomous vehicles. We know trust is all the rage right now in AV research, but what we found might surprise you! Maybe trust doesn’t indicate our decisions to ride in AVs, after all. Take a look at the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d8qMvBmy, and for an overview of the study and results, check out this cool video made by one of our students, Maizy Weirich!

Congratulations to VEMI Chief Research Scientist Dr. Nicholas Giudice upon receipt of the University of Maine Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award, which celebrates research, scholarship, and creative activity that results in national and international recognition. Nick's research has been foundational to the growth and direction of VEMI, and his emphasis on translating research for the greater good is central to our mission. Please join us in congratulating Nick, and all the 2025 presidential award winners! Link to full story: https://lnkd.in/ehaWZ-2h  

VEMI Chief Research Scientist Dr. Nicholas Giudice was quoted in The Atlantic for an Oct. 16 story on autonomous vehicles titled “The End of Parallel Parking.” Guidice spoke with author Kaitlyn Tiffany on the benefits AVs could have for driving-limited populations, such as those who are blind and visually impaired. The full story is here (paywall): thttps://lnkd.in/eG6JdrpN

VEMI original research at #AutoUI2024! Congrats to Dr. Fink and co-authors - including four undergrads (now University of Maine alumni!) - on this paper!

It's Lobstah Bowl time! VEMI is thrilled to support the Maine College of Engineering and Computing in hosting the VEX Robotics Lobstah Bowl this week at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono. This event, the first of its kind in Maine, celebrates the spirit of innovation and prepares future problem-solvers and leaders in the field of robotics. Through a series of competitive and collaborative activities, participating high school robotics teams from across North America will have the opportunity to showcase their skills, exchange ideas, and advance their knowledge in science, technology, engineering, computing and mathematics. Special shoutouts to lab manager RJ Perry for his leadership in bringing this event together, Grant Beals and the team at ASAP Media Services for streaming the proceedings, and Abigail Zier for logo development. If you can't be here in person, catch the stream through 9/14: https://lnkd.in/eAwJqat9

Lab manager RJ Perry was a recent guest on the Maine Science Podcast with Kate Dickerson - listen at the link below. We always have a blast talking to and working with Kate, and this podcast is no exception! Listen: https://lnkd.in/eRqEqxkG

Lab manager RJ Perry was a recent guest on the Maine Science Podcast with Kate Dickerson - listen at the link below. We always have a blast talking to and working with Kate, and this podcast is no exception! Listen: https://lnkd.in/eRqEqxkG