Ohio will be receiving $17.8 million to generate further data on self-driving vehicles, an area of research in which the state is already playing a key role.

Senators, Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman say that the funds are to be used to keep Ohio at the forefront of vehicle automation research.

The Ohio Department of Transportation and a group of other organizations, received a $7.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

An additional $10.3 million was contributed in matching funds as well.