{"id":2593,"date":"2017-12-14T16:14:44","date_gmt":"2017-12-14T16:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mtwc.org\/?p=2593"},"modified":"2017-12-14T16:14:44","modified_gmt":"2017-12-14T16:14:44","slug":"in-the-midwest-driverless-vehicle-proving-grounds-are-revving-into-high-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/2017\/12\/14\/in-the-midwest-driverless-vehicle-proving-grounds-are-revving-into-high-gear\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Midwest, Driverless Vehicle Proving Grounds are Revving into High Gear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_full-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_full-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_full-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c av_one_full  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '   ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-fd2808b5967cfb8a3f57c66b273e102a\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-fd2808b5967cfb8a3f57c66b273e102a .av-caption-image-overlay-bg{\nopacity:0.4;\nbackground-color:#000000;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-fd2808b5967cfb8a3f57c66b273e102a .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-fd2808b5967cfb8a3f57c66b273e102a av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first  noHover av-overlay-on-hover'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/initiatives\/technology-in-transportation\/\" class='avia_image'  target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><div class=\"av-image-caption-overlay\"><div class=\"av-caption-image-overlay-bg\"><\/div><div class=\"av-image-caption-overlay-position\"><div class=\"av-image-caption-overlay-center\"><p>INTERACTIVE MAP: Autonomous Vehicle Proving Grounds in the Midwest<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image- avia-img-lazy-loading-not- avia_image' src=\"http:\/\/mtwc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ProvingGroundsMapScreencapture_B-1500x430.png\" alt='' title=''   itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Proving grounds are often used to test a new technology or products. It is natural in the Midwest, where the auto industry has long relied on test tracks to test automobile safety and performance, that these same sites are being used to test driverless vehicles. Every state in the Midwest has taken notice of the momentum growing in driverless vehicle technologies and <a href=\"http:\/\/mtwc.org\/initiatives\/technology-in-transportation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">several projects are underway in the region<\/a>, including three of the 10 sites designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) as proving grounds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fifth-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fifth-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_three_fifth-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_two_fifth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding column-top-margin'   ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>The US DOT Proving Ground Designation<\/h2>\n<p>In January, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transportation.gov\/briefing-room\/dot1717\">US DOT designated 10 proving ground pilot sites<\/a> to encourage testing and information sharing around automated vehicle technologies. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx expressed the department\u2019s desire that the designees work together to share best practices and to help accelerate learning around automated vehicles as well as to promote their safe deployment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been a wonderful designation,\u201d said Peter Rafferty, Program Manager of one of the designated sites, the <a href=\"http:\/\/wiscav.org\/\">Wisconsin AV Proving Grounds<\/a> in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. \u201cIt gets us a seat at the table with these other proving grounds and collaborating about the hard questions we should be asking around autonomous vehicles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 10 proving ground designees are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>City of Pittsburgh and the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute<\/li>\n<li>Texas AV Proving Grounds Partnership<\/li>\n<li>U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center<\/li>\n<li>American Center for Mobility (ACM) at Willow Run<\/li>\n<li>Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) &amp; GoMentum Station<\/li>\n<li>San Diego Association of Governments<\/li>\n<li>Iowa City Area Development Group<\/li>\n<li>University of Wisconsin-Madison<\/li>\n<li>Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partners<\/li>\n<li>North Carolina Turnpike Authority<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_fifth-3220371e88ba221f37318f16c02e8503\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_fifth-3220371e88ba221f37318f16c02e8503{\nborder-width:1px;\nborder-color:#00833d;\nborder-style:solid;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:12px 12px 12px 12px;\nbackground-color:#fff9ed;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_two_fifth-3220371e88ba221f37318f16c02e8503 av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_three_fifth  el_before_av_one_full  flex_column_div column-top-margin'   ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-1d103a02c9f6330b7ac47fa33aa6fb2e\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-1d103a02c9f6330b7ac47fa33aa6fb2e{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-1d103a02c9f6330b7ac47fa33aa6fb2e .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-1d103a02c9f6330b7ac47fa33aa6fb2e .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-1d103a02c9f6330b7ac47fa33aa6fb2e av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-6  el_before_av_toggle_container  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Definitions<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='togglecontainer av-av_toggle_container-ae92349136806bb0fea451f1df9a21af  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last ' >\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-av_toggle-1599c32adc4b159d4804da60f47418d0'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-1' class='toggler  activeTitle '  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-1'>Autonomous vehicles (AV)<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-1' class='toggle_wrap  active_tc' style='display:block;' ><div class='toggle_content invers-color '  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Autonomous vehicles\u00a0fall along a continuum on a scale from Level 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation). At this time, there are vehicles in use up to Level 4, which are currently restricted to certain areas. Level 5 is predicted to be years away.<br \/>\nFor more info, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/technology-innovation\/automated-vehicles-safety\">https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/technology-innovation\/automated-vehicles-safety<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-av_toggle-31c59bb54fc1fac4fc9899b519aba103'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-2' class='toggler   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-2'>Connected vehicle technology (CVT)<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-2' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color '  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Connected vehicle technology<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>involves transportation infrastructure with sensors and software that makes information available to vehicles via wireless communication. While separate, AV and CVT are related because CVT can be used to augment AV functionality.<br \/>\nFor more info, visit the US DOT website:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.its.dot.gov\/cv_basics\/\">https:\/\/www.its.dot.gov\/cv_basics\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/p><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_full-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_full-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_full-6126cab7d8fab8d08143dd2dacdf673c av_one_full  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '   ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>\u201cThe proving grounds vary,\u201d said Rafferty. \u201cSome are solely a test track. Others, like us in the College of Engineering, are more distributed with multiple facilities or with a variety of things they\u2019re working on.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2595\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/mtwc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/nhtsa_sae_automation_levels.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2595\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2595\" src=\"http:\/\/mtwc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/nhtsa_sae_automation_levels.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"649\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2595\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The US DOT uses the six levels of automation for on-road motor vehicles from the engineering professionals\u2019 association and standards developer, SAE International. These go from Level 0, defined as no automation to Level 5, defined as full automation. Image source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/technology-innovation\/automated-vehicles-safety#maintaining-safe-distance<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>The Expanding Definition of Transportation<\/h2>\n<p>Several disciplines are brought into the development of driverless cars. This multidisciplinary nature means that people from outside the traditional purview of Transportation are now defining the Transportation field.<\/p>\n<p>For example, a lot of autonomous vehicle (AV) development is being pushed by technology companies like Apple and Alphabet subsidiary, Waymo. It might be argued that these companies are doing even more to advance AV than the traditional automobile manufacturers.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the traditional disciplines of Civil Engineering and Planning, autonomous vehicle technology draws on expertise in electrical engineering, software engineering, big data, cybersecurity, environmental science, economics, human factors, policy making, and more.<\/p>\n<h2>Projects Across the Midwest<\/h2>\n<p>Every state in the Midwest Transportation Workforce Center\u2019s region is taking note of driverless vehicle technology. Following is a brief survey of activities in this area for each state.<\/p>\n<h3>Illinois<\/h3>\n<p>Is one of the 21 states that have passed legislation related to autonomous vehicles according to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncsl.org\/research\/transportation\/autonomous-vehicles-self-driving-vehicles-enacted-legislation.aspx\">National Conference of State Legislatures<\/a>. Illinois continues to have an active interagency work group working on regulatory and technical challenges with AV deployment.<\/p>\n<h3>Indiana<\/h3>\n<p>Pr\u016bv Mobility Ecosystem, based in Columbus, Ohio, has entered into an agreement with Purdue Research Foundation to build a state-of-the-art research facility, test track and proving grounds for driverless vehicles. The 517-acre facility will be built adjacent to Purdue University\u2019s main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. The facility is designed to meet a need for more testing facilities, labs, proving grounds, test tracks and test-bed facilities with other transportation and mobility companies that need to test their innovations and technologies.<\/p>\n<h3>Iowa<\/h3>\n<p>Another designee of the US DOT Automated Vehicle Proving Ground program, the University of Iowa\u2019s National Advanced Driving Simulator and the Corridor hope to establish the region as a community of practice for this new technology. The team is building out a virtual proving grounds within their simulation environment.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, in 2016, the Iowa Department of Transportation entered into a roughly $2 million agreement with the digital mapping company, HERE, to perform digital high definition mapping of Interstate 380 between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids as part of a multiphase effort to begin preparing for autonomous vehicle technology.<\/p>\n<h3>Michigan<\/h3>\n<p>The American Center for Mobility at Willow Run was designated as one of the sites of the US DOT Automated Vehicle Proving Ground program. The center will work to lead the safe deployment of automated technologies and vehicles through testing, education and product development for connected and automated vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Located on 530-plus acres at the Willow Run site, the Center will be a purpose-built facility designed for testing, education and product development, to enable safe validation and self-certification of CAV technology, and to accelerate the development of voluntary standards.<\/p>\n<p>Michigan is also one of the 21 states that have passed legislation related to autonomous vehicles according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.<\/p>\n<h3>Minnesota<\/h3>\n<p>In February 2017, the first phase of a pilot project to bring autonomous buses to Minnesota was begun. In the first phase, the group worked to solicit technology partners to safely demonstrate how AV technology works in cold and snowy weather. Phase 2 includes a controlled demonstration at MnROAD, Minnesota Department of Transportation\u2019s pavement test track facility. After a successful test at MnROAD, a live pilot is planned during the week of the 2018 Super Bowl.<br \/>\nThe project is focusing on developing buses because currently there is little research being done with transit buses, an important need for the Twin Cities and the state.<\/p>\n<h3>Missouri and Kansas<\/h3>\n<p>In September, the Missouri Department of Transportation surveyed the state seeking citizen input on driverless cars and long-term priorities for the agency. Missouri is also home to the I-70 Road to Tomorrow corridor for AV testing.<br \/>\nAdditionally, startup company, Integrated Roadways, is working in Kansas City to pilot a project to make the city ready for driverless cars. The plan includes embedding sensors in the city\u2019s roads. In addition to collecting information regarding road use, speed, and vehicle weight, the technology could have applications in the navigation and communication of self-driving cars.<\/p>\n<h3>Ohio<\/h3>\n<p>Ohio has multiple projects and facilities with relevance to automated and connected vehicle technology.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Originally built in 1962 by the The Ohio State University, the Transportation Research Center is continuing to grow. Recent investments include an initial $45 million investment from the state and The Ohio State University for an expansion of the center\u2019s 540-acre SMART Center, a state-of-the-art hub for autonomous and connected vehicle research.<\/li>\n<li>The state is investing $15 million in a Smart Mobility Corridor, a stretch of U.S. 33 between Dublin and East Liberty being lined with fiber optic cable that can collect data on autonomous and connected vehicles. The Ohio Turnpike between Youngstown and Toledo is also expected to become a testing ground for similar research, and the latest state budget includes funding for additional smart highway projects on I-270 in Columbus and I-90 in northeast Ohio.<\/li>\n<li>The city of Columbus competed with more than 70 other cities across the U.S., winning the Smart City Challenge in 2016. The project, which is intended to turn Columbus into a testing ground for transportation technology, drew an initial investment of $50 million, including a $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and an additional $10 million from Vulcan Inc. The city will also match that initial investment with more than $360 million in pledges from public and private sector partners, according to information from the city.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Wisconsin<\/h3>\n<p>As a designee of the US DOT Automated Vehicle Proving Ground program, the College of Engineering in Madison, Wisconsin is exploring a variety of research angles. Their exploration encompasses research in everything from high-definition mapping to closed test track testing to real-world applications. They also will work to help guide policy decision making around this area.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are also having conversations with Chippewa Valley Airport because they have a similar designation from the FAA for researching automated ground equipment for use at airports,\u201d said Rafferty.<\/p>\n<p>Wisconsin is also one of five states whose governors have issued executive orders related to autonomous vehicles according to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncsl.org\/research\/transportation\/autonomous-vehicles-self-driving-vehicles-enacted-legislation.aspx\">National Conference of State Legislatures<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Proving grounds are often used to test a new technology or products. It is natural in the Midwest, where the auto industry has long relied on test tracks to test automobile safety and performance, that these same sites are being used to test driverless vehicles. Every state in the Midwest has taken notice of the momentum growing in driverless vehicle technologies and several projects are underway in the region, including three of the 10 sites designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) as proving grounds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[11,27,45,72,75],"class_list":["post-2593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-success-stories","tag-autonomous-vehicles","tag-driverless-cars","tag-midwest-strategy","tag-technology-in-transportation","tag-transportation-workforce-pipeline"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2593"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2593\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtwc.cee.wisc.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}