ITS America Expo adds record outdoor demos in Detroit

By AI, Created 5:21 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – ITS America Conference & Expo will bring expanded live transportation demonstrations to Detroit June 9-11, with Michigan DOT leading three connected corridors, an emergency response tech day and new hands-on tours. The program is designed to show how vehicle, roadside and pedestrian technologies work together in real traffic conditions.

Why it matters: - The expanded demo program puts intelligent transportation technology in real-world settings, not just on a show floor. - Michigan DOT is using Detroit as a live testbed for connected, automated and safety-focused mobility tools. - The program is meant to show how everyday travelers, emergency responders and freight operators could benefit from interoperable transportation systems.

What happened: - ITS America Conference & Expo 2026 will take place June 9-11 in Detroit, Michigan. - RX Global and ITS America organize the event in partnership. - Michigan DOT is leading the outdoor demonstration experiences under the theme “Everyday Interoperability.” - The 2026 program includes a record number of demonstration participants. - The event is adding more outdoor demonstration experiences than previous years.

The details: - The I-94 Freeway Experience covers a 45-mile route between downtown Detroit and Ann Arbor. - That corridor will show work zone warnings, road hazard alerts and emergency vehicle applications. - The I-94 setup uses roadside sensors, dedicated communication units and vehicle-to-network cellular connectivity. - The M-1 Intelligent Woodward Experience runs four miles along 31 vehicle-to-everything-equipped intersections between Huntington Place and the Electreon Inductive Charging Tour at the Henry Ford Health Center. - Autonomous vehicle shuttles will run on the M-1 corridor to demonstrate intersection-based mobility and safety services. - The Everyday Downtown Experience extends vehicle-to-network applications across downtown Detroit. - That downtown program connects autonomous vehicle shuttles, pedestrians and micromobility users through a smartphone app that works as a personal on-board unit for collision avoidance and vulnerable road user alerts. - Emergency Response Tech & Demo Day is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Outdoor Demonstration Area. - GFT Infrastructure Inc. and Michigan DOT are presenting that emergency response event. - The emergency day will highlight infrastructure-based vehicle-to-everything communications for incident scene warnings. - The program will also show drone delivery integration for emergency operations. - An autonomous freight vehicle will be available for technical exploration. - The Outdoor Demonstration Area is outside Huntington Place’s Hall B entrance. - Live product demonstrations will come from Brandmotion, Haas Alert, Integrity Security Services LLC, Miovision Technologies, PrePass Safety Alliance and Ver-mac. - Brandmotion will show its SmartHUD Digital Vehicle Alert System. - Haas Alert will demonstrate networked vehicle-to-everything safety solutions. - Miovision Technologies will present connected vehicle capabilities. - The program also includes curated small-group visits to Newlab in Detroit. - Attendees will tour The Detroit Smart Parking Lab, where companies will demonstrate EV charging, autonomous systems, robotics and drone operations. - An ADASTEC autonomous shuttle will move attendees between event venues, the Smart Parking Lab and Newlab. - Tours will run multiple times during the event and are limited to 15 participants per session. - More demonstration details will be added to the website in the coming weeks. - More information about demonstrations and the full event experience is available at the event website.

Between the lines: - The demo-heavy format signals a shift from static conference booths toward active proof-of-performance in live corridors. - The focus on interoperability suggests the industry is trying to make connected vehicle technology useful across brands, agencies and transportation modes. - Detroit’s combination of freeway, downtown and innovation-lab venues gives organizers multiple environments to showcase technology maturity.

What’s next: - Attendees will see the demonstrations during the June 9-11 conference. - Emergency Response Tech & Demo Day will run on June 11. - Additional demonstration information will be posted in the weeks leading up to the event. - Small-group tours will continue throughout the conference with limited capacity.