First Autonomous Vehicle to Be Run on a Canadian Road by University of Waterloo Students

WATERLOO, ON--(Marketwired - August 17, 2015) - On Tuesday, August 18, local startup Varden Labs will achieve a first in Canada when they run their autonomous (self-driving) shuttle on Ring Road at the University of Waterloo main campus.

This is the first time an autonomous vehicle will run on Canadian roads. Varden Labs was co-founded by two University of Waterloo Mechatronics Engineering students, Alex Rodrigues and Michael Skupien.

In late July, Varden Labs won $25,000 at the Velocity Fund Finals event with a pitch that showed how autonomous shuttles will change the way people live and work in campus environments such as hospitals, university campuses, large-campus corporations and assisted living facilities.

Rodrigues and Skupien are currently students in the Velocity Residence at the University of Waterloo, a dorm for students building startups and coming up with modern, innovative solutions to existing problems or issues.

Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Time: 11 a.m. to Noon
Location: Univeristy of Waterloo, Ring Road

Please let us know if you plan to attend and would like to schedule a briefing or photo.

Attention broadcasters: Waterloo has facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds with a double-ender studio. Please contact us for more information.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/8/17/11G050925/Images/golf_cart_headshot-1346085422000.jpg