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, Convention & Expo, Innovation, Press Release, Transportation

Blue Vigil ALED Portable Light wins Innovation Award at ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expo

Three products selected for honorable mention

Pictured from left are, Tyler Helvey with Hill & Smith, Scott Heydt with Horizon Signal Technologies, Blue Vigil CEO Rob Schumann and David McKee of PSS.

Phoenix (Feb. 21, 2023) – A portable lighting system tethered to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) won the Innovation Award at ATSSA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo with three other new products being recognized for honorable mention.

The Blue Vigil ALED Portable Light is a person-portable area lighting system that mounts a high-intensity LED array on a tethered UAV that can be positioned up to 100 feet above a job site, according to Blue Vigil of Sterling, Va. The ALED puts over 8,000 square feet of light on the ground, providing nearly twice as much coverage as the towed light towers commonly used for roadway work zones.

The ALED can remain airborne for as long as needed and is designed to withstand the rigors of use in the field and on construction sites, according to company information.

The innovative light was chosen from among 18 entered in ATSSA’s New Products Rollout. The products represented companies from the U.S., Canada and Australia, and were evaluated by a panel of judges made up of department of transportation personnel.

Products considered for the Innovation Award were evaluated on the criteria of lifesaving qualities, degree of need, innovation, design and eligibility under the Highway Safety Improvement Program. All of the products were also evaluated on their contribution to the industry’s mission of advancing roadway safety and working Toward Zero Deaths.

The following products were chosen for honorable mention and were given equal honor:

The Innovation Award winner was honored today during ATSSA’s Circle of Innovation where a video of the product was shown and a company representative spoke about it and explained its benefits for the roadway safety infrastructure industry.

ATSSA Director of Innovation & Technical Services Eric Perry also introduced representatives for the three products receiving honorable mention.

ATSSA’s Innovation Awards are given each year as part of the Association’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. This year’s event ran from Feb. 17 through today at the Phoenix Convention Center.

“The New Products Rollout is held annually to give the industry an opportunity to present the latest innovative ideas for roadway safety,” Perry said. “From these items, judges recognize the ones with the greatest potential to save lives on the nation’s roadways. It’s always encouraging to see the ideas members of the industry have developed to introduce to the marketplace.”

For more information about next year’s event, email Perry at eric.perry@atssa.com.

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Tags: new products rollout innovation award Horizon Signal Technologies Annual Convention & Traffic Expo Blue Vigil Hill and Smith
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