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

ATSSA releases connected arrow board benefits resource ATSSA releases connected arrow board benefits resource

ATSSA releases connected arrow board benefits resource

Resource is available for free download to help save lives

Pam 0 6887 Article rating: 4.5

Connected arrow boards offer several advantages for work zone safety, a message ATSSA is helping spread through a new one-page flyer available for free download.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (IowaDOT) has required the use of connected arrow boards on all interstate and state highway projects since 2022 as reported in a feature about smart arrow boards in Roadway Safety magazine.

The Connected Arrow Boards flyer was created by the Work Zone ITS Subcommittee of ATSSA’s Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Committee and approved by the full committee at its February meeting. It notes that more than 3,000 connected arrow boards are already in use on roads and lists seven benefits of the devices.

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

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

Three products selected for honorable mention

Pam 0 9287 Article rating: 4.5

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.

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ATSSA announces 2021 New Products Rollout participants ATSSA announces 2021 New Products Rollout participants

ATSSA announces 2021 New Products Rollout participants

Exhibitors to showcase most innovative products in roadway safety infrastructure industry

Pam 0 24221 Article rating: 4.0

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Jan. 7, 2021) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association  selected nine companies to participate in its 2021 New Products Rollout  event, which is held in conjunction with the 51st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo being held online over two weeks in February.

Typically, more than 3,700 people attend the largest roadway safety tradeshow in North America to see some of the latest innovations in the roadway safety infrastructure industry. The products submitted as part of NPRO are comprised of a wide range of devices designed to save lives on our nation’s roadways.

This year’s Convention is being held Feb. 8-12 and 16-18.

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