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, Government, Innovation, Policy, Tech and Innovation

MASH scoping study discussed during AASHTO Virtual Spring Meeting 2021

During AASHTO's 2021 Virtual Spring Meeting on Monday, the Council on Highways and Streets (CHS) gathered to provide updates from various stakeholders. The discussion included an update on the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) scoping study to determine the feasibility and potential next steps to convert MASH into a set of performance specifications.

Joyce Taylor from the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), who serves as design vice chair with AASHTO, gave an update on the MASH scoping study conducted by Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). She discussed the challenges related to current testing procedures and the gray areas within the existing manual that lead to a lack of consistency, as testing may be conducted differently by facilities.

The scoping study, conducted by TTI and sponsored by AASHTO, was completed in April. The purpose of the study was to investigate the time, cost and steps needed to convert MASH into a set of performance specifications. As a result, AASHTO is considering proceeding with the conversion of the document. The study accomplished the following tasks:

  • Revision of existing specs/test methods and recommendation of an appropriate format.
  • Tasks required to convert MASH.
  • Level of effort and timelines required for the conversion.
  • Draft final report and research problem statements for potential next steps.

 

The desired outcomes from the conversion of MASH into a set of performance specifications are to:

  • Reduce subjectivity in testing and provide clearly defined crash testing criteria
  • Revise format and organization of the document
  • Simplify instructions and increase the level of certainty in crash testing (to help manufacturers know what tests to run).

 

AASHTO's next steps are:

  • Review by AASHTO committees (TCRS, Design, Bridges, Traffic Engineering)
  • Input from industry cross section (ATSSA, Task Force 13, other industry representatives, academia, crash test facilities)

 

AASHTO anticipates providing outreach and communication over the next several months with the hopes of providing an update during AASHTO's fall meeting.

ATSSA Director of Innovation & Technical Services Eric Perry authored this post.

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Tags: MASH AASHTO MaineDOT Innovation & Technical Services
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