Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has been named to a select group of academic institutions leading a nationwide effort to strengthen cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in the U.S. automotive industry—a sector increasingly reliant on smart, connected technologies.
Supported by a $2.5 million grant from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity the DRiving Automotive Industry WorkForce Transformation (DRIFT) program will provide specialized online and in-person training designed to upskill the workforce and protect vehicle systems from emerging threats.
WPI associate professors Jun Dai, Xiaoyan Sun, and Xiaozhong Liu, all from the Department of Computer Science, will lead the university’s DRIFT program. WPI will receive $749,994 over two years, with the opportunity for an additional $300,000 in a third year. The program will offer tuition-free modules, workshops, and real-world training to help engineers and professionals develop advanced competencies in cybersecurity and AI.
“Today’s vehicles are computers on wheels—powered by data, software, and smart systems,” said Dai. “AI is transforming the future of mobility, but without robust cybersecurity, we put innovation—and lives—at risk. DRIFT directly addresses the workforce gap by preparing engineers and professionals with the tools they need to protect connected and autonomous vehicles, and ultimately, to accelerate the development of next-generation transportation.”
As vehicles become more connected, equipped with internet-enabled infotainment systems, GPS, remote diagnostics, and automated driver assistance systems, they also become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. While autonomous vehicles are often in the spotlight, nearly all modern vehicles are now potential targets.
In one of the most publicized demonstrations of this risk, cybersecurity researchers remotely took control of a Jeep Cherokee in 2015, manipulating its brakes, steering, and transmission while it was on the highway. More recently, the 2025 Global Automotive and Smart Mobility Cybersecurity report by Upstream revealed that massive-scale incidents—each impacting millions of vehicles—more than tripled between 2023 and 2024, rising from 5% to 19%. The data shows the vulnerability of even top-tier smart vehicles. These incidents underscore the urgent need to secure both automotive systems and the talent pool capable of doing so.
The DRIFT curriculum is designed for a wide audience, including:
- Automotive engineers
- Cybersecurity and AI professionals
- IT workers transitioning into transportation-related sectors
- Educators and students at two- and four-year institutions
- Department of Transportation personnel
- Military and civilian defense staff
- First responders and public safety officials
- Policymakers and regulators
Courses will be delivered online, in-person, and hybrid formats and will cover:
- The architecture and key components of connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) systems
- AI applications and their role in enabling core CAV functions
- Common vulnerabilities in connected vehicle systems, including GPS spoofing, sensor interference, and over-the-air update threats
- Defensive cybersecurity strategies tailored for CAV environments
- Hands-on case studies to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world applications
WPI joins the following partner institutions in offering DRIFT training:
- Oakland University
- University of Delaware
- University of Michigan-Dearborn
- Cleveland State University
- Sinclair Community College
Those interested in this program can access the application link for the activities at: https://www.secs.oakland.edu/ei/drift/programs/.
For more information about WPI’s DRIFT program, visit: https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/cybersecurity/drift.