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

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Students encouraged to apply for Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships

Applications due by Feb. 15 for 2023-24 academic year

Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships can fuel the journey to dreams fulfilled for students who lost a parent or had one permanently disabled due to a work zone incident.

The ATSS Foundation offers two scholarships for the loved ones following a work zone tragedy.

The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program offers dependents of the workers—both children and spouses—an opportunity to continue pursuing their academic dreams beyond high school. This competitive program offers up to $10,000 for an academic year. Applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism may be eligible to receive an additional $1,000 in honor of Chuck Bailey, who was an esteemed member of the roadway safety industry.

Applications are due by Feb. 15 for the 2023-24 academic year.

The Foundation also offers Experience Camp Travel Scholarships for children and youth to attend a free one-week, overnight summer camp where there is opportunity for healing alongside peers who have experienced similar losses. Experience Camps are a national network of summer camps and year-round programs for children and teens in grades 4 through 12. The Experience Camps Travel Scholarship covers all round-trip travel costs for the student and his or her guardian.

“The goal is to no longer need these scholarships because we see an end to work zone worker deaths and serious injuries,” said ATSS Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “In the meantime, we rely on the generosity of individuals and organizations.

“We have been blessed by the commitment of many ATSSA members and chapters to support The Foundation such as 3M—which again this year established a pledge wall that continues through the end of the 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo, the New England ATSSA Chapter—which hosted an event during the 2022 Midyear Meeting, and the Georgia ATSSA Chapter—which matched donations during Giving Tuesday and is a sponsor for this year’s Hoops Mania.”

The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships since its inception in 1988. Fourteen students were awarded scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year. Two of the 14 also received the Chuck Bailey Memorial Scholarship for this school year.

Current Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship recipients share their stories and discuss how ATSS Foundation scholarships have helped them achieve their dreams.

The ATSS Foundation is the charitable arm of ATSSA. It was formed with the core purpose to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs. Donations can be made at Foundation.ATSSA.com/Donate.

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