Purdue University Commits to Autonomous Vehicle R&D

Most recently an assistant project manager with the Walsh Group in Dallas, Texas, civil and construction engineering professional Bashir Abubakar Audu has an interest in renewable energy and sustainability. Prior to assuming his career as an engineer, Bashir Audu earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, considered one of the nation’s top engineering programs.

Earlier this year, Purdue announced its Discovery Park facility will be home to a new initiative focused on the research and development of autonomous vehicles. Known as the Innovation Hub for Connected and Autonomous Transportation Technologies, the partnership will be led by civil engineering professor Darcy Bullock. Multidisciplinary efforts from researchers in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, machine learning, systems engineering, advanced sensing technology, and public policy will converge to address concerns and difficulties in the autonomous vehicle market with the ultimate goal of developing and commercializing products.

Purdue will work in conjunction with professionals from the private sector, as well as public agencies like the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). This research is a natural fit for Purdue, as the university is located in the state with the second highest automotive industry-generated GDP.

Majority of Electricity in the UK Now Drawn from Renewable Energy

Bashir Abubakar Audu is a Purdue University civil engineering graduate who most recently provided on-site management of construction projects in Dallas, Texas, through his role as an assistant project manager with The Walsh Group. Previously, Bashir Audu worked as a project controls engineer with IEA Renewable Energy, and he remains passionate about renewable energy projects and initiatives.

For the first time ever, the United Kingdom (UK) is drawing the majority of its electricity from renewable energy sources as opposed to fossil fuels. The statistics were compiled by Imperial College London and, while it isn't by a very large margin (41.9 GW compared to 41.2 GW), it represents a significant shift and step forward for the European nation. 

In the years to follow, the gap between renewable energy sources and fossil fuels should only increase as the UK government continues working toward reaching its goal of completely phasing out coal by 2025. Last year alone, coal fueled electricity-generating capacity declined by 25 percent. Moreover, the UK is the site of two of the largest wind farms in the world, while a third expected to surpass the other two in size is expected to open in 2020.