Cooperative Automated Transportation (CAT)

Cooperative Automated Transportation

Roadway safety in a cooperative automated world

Highway automation is not years away, or even days away. It’s here now, causing a number of state transportation agencies to react with initiatives related to preparing and supporting Connected Automated Vehicles (CAVs) on U.S. roadways.


Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs)

Cooperative Automated Transportation (CAT) deals with CAVs, which are vehicles capable of driving on their own with limited or no human involvement in navigation and control. Per the definition adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are six levels of automation (Levels 0-2: driver assistance and Levels 3-5: HAV), each of which requires its own specification and marketplace considerations.


Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) and Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs)

For traffic safety, vehicle-to-everything communications is the wireless exchange of critical safety and operational data between vehicles and anything else. The "X" could be roadway infrastructure, other vehicles, roadway workers or other safety and communication devices. ATSSA members are at the forefront of these technologies, and are working with stakeholders across new industries to see these innovations come to life.


Sensor Technology

CAVs rely on three main groups of sensors: camera, radar, and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR). The camera sensors capture moving objects and the outlines of roadway devices to get speed and distance data. Short- and long-range radar sensors work to detect traffic from the front and the back of CAVs. LIDAR systems produce three-dimensional images of both moving and stationary objects.


For more information about ATSSA’s efforts on CAT and CAV’s and their interaction with our member products check out the resources below.




Resources

Pam
/ Categories: ATSSA, FHWA, Government, Infrastructure, Innovation, Transportation, Tech and Innovation

ATSSA & NCUTCD urge publication of MUTCD without delay

Committee votes today for publication without incorporating PROWAG

The National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) passed a resolution today recommending the final rule on the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) not be delayed to address this week’s issuance of a final rule for pedestrian accessibility issues.

The U.S. Access Board on Tuesday issued its final rule providing minimum guidelines for accessibility of pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way, known as PROWAG.

On May 2, ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner sent a letter to Federal Highway Administration Administrator Shailen P. Bhatt urging the FHWA to publish the updated Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) by the deadline set forth in the U.S. Code, which was May 15.

Roadway safety advocates have been watching for its release since then.

ATSSA voted in favor of today’s resolution passed by the NCUTCD.

The resolution states that the NCUTCD “recommends the final rule for the 11th edition of the MUTCD be published quickly and not be delayed due to PROWAG or other issues not addressed in the December 14, 2020 [Notice of Proposed Amendments].”

Rather than incorporate changes from PROWAG into the release of the 11th edition, today’s resolution recommends a separate rulemaking effort be undertaken for that process.

The resolution notes that the NCUTCD “represents 21 sponsoring organizations representing a wide range of transportation stakeholders, and uses a strong consensus-building approach to develop recommendations for traffic control device standards and guides.”

It also notes that the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) states that Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg must provide updates necessary to provide for “any additional recommendations made by the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices that have not been incorporated into the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.”

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Tags: FHWA MUTCD NCUTCD USDOT Buttigieg IIJA PROWAG
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