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

Rep. Wittman tours ATSSA HQ
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Rep. Wittman tours ATSSA HQ

Site visit shows importance of communicating with legislators

On Monday, Nov. 13, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) toured ATSSA’s headquarters office in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to learn more about the roadway safety industry and meet the staff members who make the ATSSA trains run on time.


Wittman met with ATSSA’s Executive Team to receive a history and outlook of our industry and association and then toured the building to individually meet our staff members. Finally, we hosted a town hall-styled question and answer session for ATSSA staff members to ask Congressman Wittman policy questions.

We honored Wittman as an “honorary flagger” for his past experiences and continued support of our industry. While he served as mayor of Montross, Virginia, Wittman would pitch in to help flagging operations and because of this, took ATSSA’s Flagger and Traffic Control Technician training courses. I can safely say that Wittman is the only member of Congress to have taken an ATSSA training course.

Legislative visits like this one are one of the ways that ATSSA members can both strengthen their relationships with legislators and help our industry amplify our voice with key decision-makers. ATSSA staff members work with the legislative offices to schedule these events and will assist with the logistics as well. In addition to the lobbying efforts of the ATSSA Government Relations team and our annual Legislative Briefing and Fly-In, site visits to your facilities and work zones help members of Congress and state legislators see firsthand the impact that roadway safety infrastructure projects have on the community.


If you are interested in learning more, or setting up a site visit, please reach out to the ATSSA Government Relations team at nathan.smith@atssa.com.

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