MARCH 11 • 2021 | 31

B I R M I N G H A M

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from multiple cameras as 
well as infrared sensors 
to create a detailed three-
dimensional map of the 
road ahead. Cohadier noted 
that infrared sensors are less 
weather sensitive than optical 
cameras alone and require 
less energy to operate than 
LIDAR (laser) or radar — 
potentially a key advantage 
since the vehicles of tomorrow 
will be predominantly battery 
powered.
Foresight also said its 
technology is better than 
today’s offerings at recognizing 
objects on the road that don’t 
fall into clear classifications 
(Is that blob in the road a tire 
tread or a small dog?).
MCity provides a safe 
environment to refine such 
technology. The 32-acre 
proving ground, located in 
UM’s North Campus Research 
Complex, simulates a wide 
variety of scenarios that can 

throw off self-driving cars, 
from traffic lights and rail 
crossings to robotic deer. And, 
of course, Ann Arbor has 
plenty of inclement weather. 
The program kicked off in 
January and continues through 
next fall. The pandemic has 
limited in-person instruction 
at U-M, as well as international 
travel, but Foresight’s system 
is already in the hands of 
students, Cohadier said, and 
company representatives 
look forward to traveling to 
Michigan during the year to 
demonstrate their technology.

LINKS WITH ISRAEL
Foresight connected to 
TechLab via the Michigan 
Israel Business Accelerator 
(formerly Michigan Israel 
Business Bridge), a nonprofit 
that seeks to help Michigan’s 
economy by encouraging 
Israeli companies to set up 
shop here. 

“Foresight and TechLab at 
Mcity is a perfect example 
of what we do … we make 
that connect,” 
said Bernard 
Bourgeois, 
MIBA’s director 
of ecosystem 
development. 
“When Israeli 
companies 
expand to the 
U.S., they think about the 
coasts. Then they get here 
and realize — especially if 
they’re a mobility company 
— that all their meetings are 
in Michigan.” 
The notion that an Israeli 
company might contribute 
to and gain from Michigan’s 
automotive industry not long 
ago would have seemed like 
a joke. (Some may recall the 
ill-fated Sabra Sport Four, 
the Israeli-built sport car in 
the 1960s.) But the journey 
toward self-driving cars 

capitalizes on technologies 
the so-called “startup 
nation” leads in, including 
surveillance technology. 
“Many products began 
with the IDF,” said Foresight 
CEO Haim Siboni. Foresight 
is itself a spinoff of Israeli 
defense company Magna 
(not to be confused with 
the Canadian automotive 
supplier of the same name), 
which provides surveillance 
at airports, military 
installations and the like.
The emergence of Israeli 
autonomous startup 
MobilEye, acquired by chip 
maker Intel in 2017, further 
opened the segment to Israeli 
innovators, Siboni added.
“They found the 
automotive market is a big 
market, whereas for Tzahal 
[the IDF], it’s a niche market,” 
he said. “We feel big changes 
are coming for the car. For us, 
it’s a very good spinoff.” 

Bernard 
Bourgeois

MIBA

