Seminars

Rethinking Mobility: Human-Centered AI for Safe, Confident and Fun Driving

February 27, 2026

Avinash Balachandran, VP of Human Interactive Driving at the Toyota Research Institute, presented Rethinking Mobility: Human-Centered AI for Safe, Confident and Fun Driving at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, February 27, 2026.

Abstract: As AI moves from the virtual world into physical systems like vehicles, mobility is becoming a defining test case for how intelligent technologies are designed, governed, and trusted. While much attention has focused on fully autonomous driving, this talk explores a broader, human-...

The Future of Autonomous Mobility: Agile and Collaborative Robot Autonomy

February 24, 2026

Giuseppe Loianno, UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Associate Professor, presented The Future of Autonomous Mobility: Agile and Collaborative Robot Autonomy at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Abstract: Autonomous mobile robots are poised to transform future transportation systems by addressing a range of time sensitive and safety critical tasks. Beyond their traditional roles in logistics, search and rescue, and monitoring, robots, particularly aerial and ground systems,...

Spring 2026 Transportation Seminar

January 7, 2026

Welcome to the Spring 2026 ITS Berkeley Transportation Seminar Series.

The Transportation Seminar is organized by the Institute of Transportation Studies and the Transportation Students Organizing Committee (TRANSOC)

ITS Berkeley-sponsored seminars will be in 410 McLaughlin Hall at 3 pm. Join us for Cookie Hour at 2:30 in the Transportation Library, 412 McLaughlin Hall, unless otherwise noted: March 13 Advanced Air Mobility and eVTOL:Navigating Vertical Mobility Innovation and the Public Good, co-sponsored by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will be in...

Realizing Transportation Innovation: Learning from startups and government to scale mobility technology

November 24, 2025

Thank you to Madeline Zhu, Head of EV Fleet Partnerships at Presto, who presented Realizing Transportation Innovation: Learning from startups and government to scale mobility technology at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Abstract: Turning great transportation ideas into real-world systems is never simple, and having a good idea - or a working technology - is only the first step. This talk will explore what actually makes mobility tech (or any tech, for that matter) take off—or stall...

Learning for Traffic Control

November 17, 2025

Thank you to Ketan Savla, Associate Professor and John and Dorothy Shea Early Career Chair of Civil Engineering at the University of Southern California, who presented Learning for Traffic Control at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, November 14, 2025.

Abstract: The increasing attention to data-driven traffic management and adjacenttechnologies has warranted revisiting transportation models from the perspective ofonline learning and control. We present our contributions in this context for...

Regulating Automated Vehicle Markets

October 27, 2025

Thank you to Nicole Adler, Professor at Hebrew University Business School, who presented Regulating Automated Vehicle Markets at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, October 24, 2025.

Abstract: Regulating Automated Vehicle Markets with Dr. Amir Brudner. We examine how the organization of automated vehicle (AV) services influences commuter access, pricing and welfare in suburban areas. A game-theoretic model is developed in which commuters endogenously sort into three groups: non-...

Electric Vehicle Grid Integration: Policy Challenges and Opportunities for a Decarbonized Future

October 13, 2025

Thank you to Alan Jenn, Associate Professor at UC Davis and affiliate at ITS UC Davis Electric Vehicle group, who presented Electric Vehicle Grid Integration: Policy Challenges and Opportunities for a Decarbonized Future at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, October 10, 2025.

Abstract: Transportation electrification is reshaping both energy demand and emissions trajectories. This talk provides an overview of research on EV–grid interactions, with a focus on three areas: (1) how widespread EV adoption influences...

Control Across Scales in Traffic Management

October 9, 2025

Thank you to Murat Arcak, Professor of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in UC Berkeley’s EECS department who presented Control Across Scales in Traffic Management at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, October 3, 2025.

Abstract: This talk will present hierarchical control and game-theoretic methods for improving traffic management across multiple scales, from vehicles and road links to entire networks. Examples include vehicle and road link control strategies, highlighted by an...

All Hype or All In? The Future of Transportation with Artificial Intelligence

September 29, 2025

Thank you to Kristin White, Transportation Industry Executive and Head of Transportation Strategy & Partnerships at Google, who presented All Hype or All In? The Future of Transportation with Artificial Intelligence at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, September 26, 2025.

Abstract: Artificial intelligence is widely hyped as the solution to our most complex transportation challenges. But how do we move beyond the buzzwords and get to meaningful, real-world change? In this talk, Kristin White, Google’s...

The Advanced Research Projects Agency - Infrastructure

September 22, 2025

Thank you to Dr. Vincent Tang, Deputy Director at ARPA-I within the U.S. Department of Transportation, who presented The Advanced Research Projects Agency - Infrastructure at the Institute of Transportation Studies Transportation Seminar on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Abstract: The application of the legendary DARPA model of innovation to transportation through the establishment of ARPA-I is an exceptional opportunity for the U.S. to address foundational challenges across the sector and lead the world in breakthrough transportation technologies. Join us for...