PAVEcast: A conversation about autonomous vehicles

In this episode of the PAVECast, we interview Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). Tune in to hear President Riccobono's insights on the history of NFB, the advocacy work they do for blind individuals, and how autonomous vehicles can help create more accessible mobility options. 

President Riccobono also shares the origins of the Blind Driver Challenge, a project initiated by NFB in 2004 to explore the possibility of creating technology that would allow blind individuals to drive independently. We discuss the evolution from blind drivers to driverless cars, and the importance of including blind individuals in the development and testing of AV technology to ensure authenticity and effectiveness.
 
Learn more about the NFB: https://nfb.org/

Autonomous Vehicles are increasingly benefiting from artificial intelligence (AI) for AI-driven perception, situational awareness, and decision-making components.

Nevertheless, AI may demonstrate unfairness, bias, and sensitivity to unexpected inputs. Developing transparent and reliable AI stands as the next imperative in technology evolution, encompassing crucial attributes like robustness, privacy, explainability, accountability, and ethics.

Join us for a stimulating discussion on autonomous mobility and AI where we discuss building trust beyond the hype. We'll delve into the heart of the technological revolution reshaping transportation as we explore the intersection of autonomous mobility and artificial intelligence.

Guests Include:
Margriet van Schijndel – de Nooij,  Eindhoven University of Technology
Bernhard Lambernd, PwC

Join us for a conversation with Jessica Johnston, Senior Director at the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Tune in for insights on aging, independence, equity, and NCOA's role in supporting older adults through these changes. We also discuss how AV technology and advancements in transportation could positively impact the lives of older adults.

Learn more about NCOA: https://www.ncoa.org/

Across the globe, there has been a push toward electric vehicles, and for good reason: EVs are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than their internal combustion engine counterparts. In recognition of Earth Month, this PAVECast explores how electrification can help automated vehicles create a more sustainable transportation system.

Guests include:
Avery Ash, Executive Director, Coalition for Reimagined Mobility
Spencer Reeder, Director of Governmental Affairs and Sustainability, Audi of America
Hilary Cain, Senior Vice President of Policy, Alliance for Automotive Innovation

Taking place April 22-25 in Phoenix, AZ, the ITS America Conference & Expo brings together leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss new technologies that will enable safer, greener, and smarter transportation solutions.

Ahead of this month's event, we caught up with ITS America's President & CEO, Laura Chace. Tune in to hear about the organization's history, what trends Laura is currently seeing in the industry, conference themes and demonstrations, and more.

Register for the ITS America Conference & Expo: https://www.itsamericaevents.com/expo/en-us.html

Book a demo with PAVE & May Mobility: https://pavecampaign.org/its-2024

When a vehicle drives autonomously, it's typically using high definition maps to localize within its environment. But what if the car loses connectivity and access to maps? Or construction zones alter the accuracy of the maps?

Imagry, an autonomous driving company and PAVE member, has a solution to these questions. The company provides HD-mapless and hardware-agnostic software solutions for autonomous driving that can be integrated into both passenger vehicles and buses.

Join us for a conversation with Imagry CEO Eran Ofir as we discuss the history of Imagry, the benefits of their HD-mappless approach, and what's in store for the future of automated driving.

To learn more about Imagry, visit https://imagry.co/ 

goMARTI (Minnesota's Autonomous Rural Transit Initiative) is an on-demand autonomous shuttle project located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, that was created to explore accessibility-focused public transportation in rural communities. The program provides free on-demand rides using automated May Mobility shuttles.

This PAVECast discusses the importance of accessibility in public transit, successful collaboration between government and industry stakeholders, accessibility beyond AVs, and more.

Guests include:
Tammy Meehan Russel, President, The Plum Catalyst
Tara Olds, Director, Connected & Automated Vehicles, MnDOT
Mychael Mulhern, Director, Customer Success, May Mobility

On this episode of the PAVECast, we interview Moran David, CEO of GPR, and Diek Neurdenburg, CEO of BTG Positioning Systems, on their new partnership in seaport automation. Moran and Diek discuss the challenges with traditional positioning systems, the benefits of automating seaport operations, and the broader impact of automation on safety and efficiency.

To learn more about BTG and GPR, visit their respective websites below:
https://btg-positioning-systems.com/
https://gpr.com/

Today, most autonomous trucking companies in the U.S. are operating in Texas, and several have announced they will start running driverless routes in the state by the end of 2024. In this part 2 discussion, we dive deeper into the burgeoning AV industry in Texas, including a look at what these new technologies mean for first responders and the workforce.

Guests include:
Adam Campbell, Senior Manager, Safety Innovation and Impact at Gatik
Bart Teeter, Captain at Texas Highway Patrol
Zeke Reyna, Emerging Technology Portfolio Project Manager at TxDOT

Can we deploy AVs in public transportation this decade in Europe? Join us for a PAVECast on this topic featuring esteemed speakers from the EU funded project ULTIMO and captivating demonstrations from Geneva, the Oslo region, and Munich. 

Delving into the intersection of regulatory challenges, technology, and business, our discussion will explore the pivotal role of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in revolutionizing public transit. From discussing the European AV industry's competitiveness vis-à-vis China to dissecting the challenges and opportunities in AV adoption for transport operators, our experts will offer invaluable insights. 

Guests include:
Christian Willoch, Executive Advisor, Radical Innovation - Ruter As 
Dimitri Konstantas, Professor at University of Geneva
Mara Cole, Team lead Mobility – Bayern Innovativ GmbH

Today, most autonomous trucking companies in the U.S. are operating in Texas, and several have announced they will start running driverless routes in the state by the end of 2024. In this PAVECast, you'll learn why companies are focusing on Texas, how the regulatory framework in place today is welcoming this technology, and what’s in store for the future.

Guests include:
Marc Williams, Executive Director of TxDOT
Chris Urmson, Founder and CEO of Aurora
John Esparza, President and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association

In this episode of the PAVECast, we embark on a glimpse into Hamburg's future of transportation. By 2030, Hamburg aims to introduce 10,000 autonomous shuttles as part of a modern on-demand transport service that supplements the classic public bus and rail transport system with a new product and represents an attractive alternative to private cars. The shuttles, bookable via an app, provide a safe and scalable solution, addressing urban and rural mobility needs. 

You'll learn how this ambitious project sets the stage for a transformative, sustainable, and inclusive future of urban mobility in Hamburg.

Guests include:
Tobias Brzoskowski, Director, New Mobility Solutions Hamburg
Jonas Wigger, Public Affairs Manager, MOIA

In this PAVECast, we delve into the relationship between AVs, insurance, and public policy on both sides of the Atlantic. Our experts discuss the evolving landscape of AV technology, as well as its implications for insurers, policymakers, and the public in both the U.S. and the U.K.

Guests include:
Mike Nelson, Founder and Chairman of Quantiv Risk
Russ Galbraith, Chief Deputy Insurance Commissioner at the Arkansas Insurance Department
Rebecca Marsden, Vice President of Commercial Finance at Oxa
Tony Cotto, Director of Auto and Underwriting Policy at NAMIC

This virtual panel session aims to delve into the pivotal role of public engagement in shaping a safe and sustainable era of autonomous vehicles (AVs). We will explore the intricate dynamics of highly automated vehicles, investigating human factors influencing design and considerations for Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

Our panelists will provide valuable insights into the interaction of road users with new technologies, emphasizing the critical role this plays in seamlessly integrating autonomous vehicles into daily life. We aim to comprehend public sentiment towards AVs and their potential impact on urban landscapes, considering the perspectives of various road users.

Our discussion will encompass diverse perspectives from communities regarding the behavior and operation of urban self-driving buses, shuttles, and other vehicles. These insights will be instrumental in molding the future of transportation. We will also unravel the far-reaching implications of community expectations on the evolution of self-driving vehicles, aligning these insights with the broader vision for the future of transport and mobility.

Moreover, we will explore the recent experience of EU large scale demontrations, uncovering how autonomous technologies can enhance and revolutionize traditional modes of public transportation and Operators. Our discussion will extend to the impacts on business and governance models, public-private partnerships, the role of cities, and user needs.

Panellists:

• Henriette Cornet, Autonomous Mobility Expert
• Nick Reed, Founder at Reed Mobility; Chief Road Safety Adviser at National Highways
• Natasha Merat, Professor, Human factors and  Transport Systems, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds

Amazon, which is one of PAVE’s newest members, is redefining transportation through a global system that promotes safety and sustainability. 

For our first PAVEcast of 2024, we sat down with Tim Goodman, Amazon’s Associate General Counsel, Worldwide Road Safety and Compliance. Tim  highlighted Amazon’s approach and what the AV sector may learn from its approach, including leveraging technology and innovation for road safety.

Testing Autonomous Solutions in Highly Automated Vehicles represents a pivotal frontier in the ever-evolving landscape of transportation technology. As the world hurtles toward an era of unprecedented innovation, ensuring the safety and reliability of highly automated vehicles takes center stage. The complexity of testing autonomous solutions stems from the intricate interplay between cutting-edge technologies and the unpredictable nature of real-world scenarios. In the realm of highly automated vehicles, where artificial intelligence meets physical mobility, the stakes are high, and comprehensive testing methodologies are paramount. Highly automated vehicles must undergo testing for function and safety, have their conformity with legal regulations certified, and prove their quality.

Join us, as industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators converge to explore with us the critical aspects of testing and validating autonomous solutions. From cutting-edge simulation techniques to real-world testing scenarios, our panelists will delve into the strategies, methodologies, and regulatory frameworks that drive the development and deployment of autonomous technologies. The panel is moderated by Lukas Neckermann – Co-founder and Board Observer of PAVE Europe.

Moderator: Lukas Neckermann, NSA and PAVE Europe

Panelists:

• Joachim Taiber, Managing Director - International Alliance for Mobility Testing and Standardization (IAMTS)
• Siddartha Khastgir, Professor and Head of Verification & Validation – University of Warwick
• Rudolf Gerlach, Manager Global Regulations and Business-Development Type Approval Technology Center Traffic Safety - TÜV Rheinland

Discover the future of logistics through connected and automated heavy-duty vehicles. European projects like AWARD and MODI are leading the way in improving logistics seamless interaction between vehicles and logistics processes and operations across borders. These initiatives focus on safety, security, efficiency, and sustainability, shaping the future of transportation. 

This virtual panel discussion is designed to gain insights from industry experts and pioneers about the real-world applications, benefits, and challenges of scaling connected and automated heavy-duty vehicles in logistics. 

Whether you're a logistics professional, a tech enthusiast, or just curious about the future of transportation, this panel is a must-attend event to stay informed about the evolving world of logistics.

We invite you to participate and engage with our panel of experts as they share their knowledge and vision for the continued evolution of connected and automated heavy-duty vehicles in real-life logistics operations.

Panellists:

• Mads Skovsgaard Rasmussen, Business Development, innovation and Project management - DFDS
• Joachim Gamper, Head of Contract Logistics / SCM Area Austria North – DB Schenker
• Ragnhild Wahl, Director for Research and Innovation - ITS Norway
• Benoit Perrin, General Manager - EasyMile 

Humans use senses to navigate the world – through sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch, we explore our surroundings, and these senses work together to help us create a complete picture of our environment. 

How does an autonomous vehicle create a picture of the world? Similar to a human, an AV uses its sensors to perceive its surroundings, and based on that data, it makes decisions. While each sensor serves an important function, the collective input – or sensor fusion – is what makes the system work safely.  

In this PAVEcast, two AV CEOs will join us to explore the world of robot navigation. Aaron Nathan, CEO, CTO and Founder of Point One Navigation, and Dr. Anuja Sonalker, CEO and Founder of STEER, will explain how the pieces of the AV stack work together, create redundancies, and provide AVs with a full-picture view of the world.

• Aaron Nathan - CEO, CTO & Founder, Point One Navigation
• Dr. Anuja Sonalker - CEO and Founder, STEER 

America is experiencing a pedestrian safety crisis: over 7,500 Americans were killed while walking last year, an average of 20 deaths every day. With pedestrian deaths at their highest level since 1981, the U.S. will need to mobilize a wide range of infrastructure and technology solutions to address the root causes of fatal collisions. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) present one of the most promising opportunities to reduce the risk of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians, especially as sensor technologies continue to evolve.

In recognition of Pedestrian Safety Month, join PAVE for an enlightening virtual panel discussion focusing on the transformative impact of sensor technology and ADAS in enhancing pedestrian safety.

Panelists:

• Phil Magney – Founder and President, VSI Labs
• Chris Posch – Product Manager and Engineering Director, Automotive, Teledyne FLIR
• Pam Shadel Fischer – Senior Director of External Engagement, Governors Highway Safety Association

Autonomous logistics, a cutting-edge field at the intersection of technology and supply chain management, has the potential to revolutionize the way goods and services move within urban and sub-urban environments. By leveraging the power of automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced transportation systems, autonomous logistics is poised to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and transform the way we experience urban transportation and deliveries.

This dynamic virtual panel discussion includes industry experts and thought leaders and aims to shed light on the state of autonomous logistics, with a specific focus on regulation, use cases, business cases and user benefits, essential pillars shaping the future. This engaging event will provide valuable insights and a holistic view of where we stand in the evolution of logistics, addressing key areas of interest for all stakeholders.

This virtual panel discussion is designed to foster a deep understanding of the current state of autonomous logistics while exploring the potential it holds for the future. We invite you to participate and engage with our panel of experts as they share their knowledge and vision for the continued evolution of logistics in urban environments. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into this transformative industry.

Panelists:

• Amin Amini, Co-Founder & CEO, Loxo
• Björn Lindner, Head of Innovation, Planzer
• Daniel Laury, CEO & Chief Product Officer, Udelv
• Uwe Riedel, Manager Mobility Service Hub, Bosch

Europe has been at the forefront of pioneering initiatives to embrace connected, cooperative, and automated mobility (CCAM) technologies, aiming to enhance road safety, reduce congestion, and promote sustainable and accessible transportation systems. However, navigating the regulatory challenges and seizing the opportunities posed by CCAM deployment require a multidimensional approach.

This virtual panel will dive into various aspects of CCAM deployment in Europe, exploring the European Regulatory Frameworks and the impact on CCAM development and deployment. These panelists represent a diverse range of expertise and perspectives, collectively addressing the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in the realm of CCAM deployment in Europe. Their insights and experiences will contribute to a comprehensive discussion that addresses regulatory, technological, and economic aspects of CCAM in the European context.

This PAVE Europe Virtual Panel is organised in collaboration with the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility(ReMo).

Check out the White Paper on CCAM published by ReMo: https://reimaginedmobility.org/eu-green-transition-ccam/

Panelists:

• Maria Cristina Galassi, Team Leader – Automated Connected Vehicles and Safety, DG GROW, European Commission
• George Ivanov, Head of International Policy & Government Affairs, WAYMO
• Jessica Uguccioni, Head of CAM Adoption Strategy at Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, UK Department for Transport
• Xilin Zhou, Products and Partnerships, Swiss Re

Autonomous vehicles hold incredible potential for improving mobility in American cities – but collaboration is vital to maximizing the benefits of AVs and navigating the challenges of introducing new technology to city streets. In this PAVE Virtual Panel, experts will share insights from a multidisciplinary effort to identify best practices for integrating AVs into U.S. cities of all sizes.

A new report by the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation, Principles for Autonomous Urbanism, outlines how policymakers, industry, and stakeholders can work together to mitigate challenges and pursue opportunities to collectively unlock the positive benefits of AVs for cities.

The NYU Rudin Center for Transportation and Nuro brought together five working groups of practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and industry leaders to identify specific principles that are applicable to a wide range of U.S. cities. These participants hailed from cities large and small, as well as from suburbs and state authorities, representing public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Join us for an engaging discussion and learn about the 10 actionable principles for government, industry, and stakeholders to collaborate on integrating AVs into cities of all sizes.

Panelists:

• Sarah Kaufman – Interim Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation
• Katie Stevens – Head of Policy, Nuro
• Carlos Cruz-Casas – Chief Innovation Officer, Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works
• Ryan Westrom – Vice President of Strategy, Citian
• Moderator: Greg Rogers – Founder & President, Aries Public Policy LLC

AVs are expected to be introduced in increasing numbers over the next decades. Moreover, they are expected to have considerable impacts on mobility, safety, the environment and society as a whole.

One of the impacts of AVs that is considered is road safety, which is high on the agenda when it comes to mobility planning and management.

One of the primary expectations regarding AVs is a substantial reduction in road accidents. The majority of road accidents occur due to human error, such as distracted driving, speeding, or drunk driving. AVs have the potential to eliminate these risks by eliminating the human factor from the equation. With their ability to perceive and analyze the surrounding environment more accurately and react faster than humans, AVs can minimize the likelihood of collisions and errors on the road.

The panel delves into the various impacts of fully autonomous vehicles on road safety, exploring the initiatives undertaken at the UNECE level, within the International Road Safety Observatory, and at a technical level.

Panelists:

George Yannis, Professor at National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
Lucas Bublitz, Team Lead Technology and Regulation P3 Group
Luciana Iorio, Italian Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport & Chairperson UNECE WP.1

Autonomous vehicles present a tremendous opportunity to improve roadway safety by reducing human factors that contribute to crashes—from speeding and reckless driving to intoxication and distraction. At the same time, it’s critical to ensure that the law enforcement officers who are responsible for enforcing the rules of the road are prepared for the paradigm shift of interacting with the autonomous systems that are behind the wheel. 

Join PAVE for an in-depth discussion about the future of law enforcement roles in the era of AVs, featuring industry representatives with firsthand experience overseeing law enforcement through the California Highway Patrol and the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Guests:
Gary McCarthy, Senior Manager- Law Enforcement Interaction, Aurora
Brett Fabbri, Head of Law Enforcement Policy and Roadway Safety, Kodiak

The advancement of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has sparked numerous discussions about their potential impact on society. One key area of concern revolves around the job market and how this transformative technology might shape employment opportunities. To address these pressing questions, we present an engaging virtual panel, specifically focused on Europe, where experts from various sectors within the AV ecosystem will share their experiences and shed light on future trends.

Students wonder what classes they need to take to be prepared for AV-related jobs, while current workers may worry that their job could be altered or eliminated by automation.

The panel also acknowledges the concerns of current workers who may feel apprehensive about the potential automation of their jobs. Through open and honest conversations with individuals who have experienced the impact of automation first-hand, we aim to address these anxieties and explore possible strategies for job adaptation, retraining, or transition within the AV ecosystem.

Panelists:

• Frances Williamson – Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Zenzic
• Nikolas Thomopoulos, Associate Professor in Transport, University of Surrey & WISE-ACT Chair
• David Storer – Director Research, Innovation, New Mobility, CLEPA

While AVs are driving an evolution in transportation technology, urban policy is undergoing a renaissance of its own. City leaders are confronting the past century’s twin legacies of auto-centric infrastructure and sprawling development in order to improve safety, sustainability, and equity. How do AVs fit into the growing movement to build more livable communities and offer affordable, sustainable mobility options? Can AVs be a tool for reducing single-occupant vehicle trips and encouraging the adoption of alternative modes of transportation? 

Listen for a thoughtful exploration of these questions and more, featuring some of the leading thinkers on urban policy and transportation technology.

• Greg Rodriguez - Mobility Policy Principal, Stantec
• Sarah Kaufman - Interim Executive Director / Adjunct Professor of Planning, Rudin Center for Transportation - NYU Wagner School
• Dr. Billy Riggs - Program Director / Associate Professor, University of San Francisco - School of Management

This fourth PAVE Europe panel brings together the insurance and autonomous vehicle industries for a discussion on the impact of self-driving technology on the insurance sector.

The panelists will discuss the risks associated with autonomous mobility, including cybersecurity threats, technology failures, and remote operator inattentiveness.  We will also delve into the fundamental shift in insuring autonomous vehicles: from retail auto insurance policies to product liability coverage.

We will also address the crucial importance of collaboration between insurance and the AV ecosystem to ensuring that policyholders are protected, and that the benefits of autonomous mobility are realized.

Listen as our moderator, Lukas Neckermann – a veteran of the insurance and AV industries and initiator of PAVE Europe – as he is joined by Margherita Atzei of Swiss Re, Jeroen Bartelse of Achmea, and Rebecca Marsden of Oxbotica for a dynamic and insightful discussion on this rapidly evolving sector.

Deploying AV technology on electric vehicle platforms can play a critical role in meeting global climate goals. In the United States, transportation is the #1 contributor to greenhouse gas emissions by sector — and to deliver on a sustainable mobility future, we must adopt an all-of-the-above approach to decarbonizing transportation. This includes transitioning from combustion engines to electric vehicles, reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips, making each trip more efficient through shared rides and batched deliveries, and encouraging the use of alternative modes of transportation.

AVs will help to democratize access to sustainable mobility through making zero-emission passenger mobility and goods delivery available to the public. Autonomy also provides an opportunity to rethink how vehicles are designed and used: Purpose-built vehicles that will never have a driver can be built for comfortable shared rides and batching deliveries from local stores to multiple homes in one trip. These new vehicle designs, combined with automated driving systems that are never intoxicated nor distracted, can increase the safety and comfort of people walking, biking, rolling, and using transit—thereby encouraging a greater shift to alternative transportation modes.

Listen as we explore the wide range of opportunities for AVs to deliver on more sustainable mobility with Tracy Cheung, Head of Sustainability at Cruise and Matthew Lipka, Head of Policy at Nuro.

This virtual panel session will examine the connection between the transition from conventional driving to autonomous driving behavioral changes and ethical issues. The panelists will delve into the implications for the development of automated vehicles, including the need for clear ethical guidelines and the role of drivers and passengers in these systems. The panel will also discuss the behavioral changes that are likely to accompany the widespread deployment of automated vehicles, including changes in road usage, vehicle ownership patterns, and transportation habits.

In this third PAVE Europe Panel, we will talk to experts from the private, academic and public sector about the ethical implications of these changes, including questions of transportation equity and the distribution of benefits and costs. Panelists will also discuss the role of regulators and policymakers in ensuring that the transition to automated driving is guided by ethical principles that prioritize public safety, privacy, and other important considerations.

Panelists:

• Adriaan Heino – Traffic Psychologist, Interpolis
• Suzanna Kraak – Policy Officer, European Commission
• Simeon C. Calvert, PhD – Assistant Professor, Delft University of Technology

Autonomous vehicles are quickly transforming the way we look at agriculture. AVs offer promising solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing the agricultural industry — from labor shortages to the need for greater efficiency. Autonomous vehicles allow farmers to monitor their land in real-time, reduce labor costs, and increase production output. With the help of AV technology, farmers can also increase safety in their fields, improve crop management, and reduce their environmental footprint.

John Deere has a long history of bringing innovation to the agricultural industry. Today, John Deere is investing in the future of farming by developing next-generation AV equipment and making these technologies accessible to producers across the country. 

We sat down to chat with Noah Schwartz, Lead Perception Engineer at Bear Flag Robotics — a developer of autonomous technology for agriculture equipment acquired by John Deere in 2021. Noah shared how John Deere is making the future of agriculture a reality today.

Automated driving technology will catalyze a significant change in how vehicles are designed and used for the first time in a century. At the same time, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is advancing a historic reinvestment in America’s transportation infrastructure. This investment presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to coevolve new vehicle technologies with advanced infrastructure to deliver on a smarter, safer, and more efficient transportation network. 

Join us to discuss the future of AVs and smart infrastructure with Kristin White, Chief Operating Officer of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, and Mark de la Vergne, Vice President of Project Development and External Affairs of Cavnue. Kristin and Mark will provide insights into the opportunity to develop a modern transportation system that can help to realize the full benefits of emerging transportation technologies. This webinar will explore the current state of our national infrastructure in relation to automated vehicles and discuss the path forward for building a smarter transportation system.

Across the automated vehicle sector, the leadership of inspiring women is transforming transportation and propelling these new technologies forward. In honor of Women’s History Month, we sat down with Indu Vijayan, Head of Product Management at Aeye and founder of the group Women in Autonomy, to talk about the critical role women play in the AV industry.

Women in Autonomy is a forum created to educate, equip and empower women building autonomous technology. The group aims to strengthen the AV sector by pushing for women’s representation in the industry, by highlighting women’s leadership, and by creating opportunities for women and girls to explore careers in the burgeoning field.

Tune in to this #PAVEcast episode to learn more about Women in Autonomy and how the group is working to change the landscape for women in the AV industry.

Public transit is a vital part of everyday life for communities across the country, providing millions of Americans with access to jobs, health care, groceries, education, and other essentials. Transit is the backbone of the mobility ecosystem for many urbanized areas, and is a transportation lifeline in communities across the country—yet 45% of Americans do not have access to transit. Innovative public-private partnerships are beginning to reveal a range of use cases where autonomous vehicles (AVs) can augment existing transit networks.

In recent years, transit agencies and AV developers have collaborated on pilot projects to explore how AVs can enhance mobility options for transit users. Incorporating AVs into public transit can help to connect riders to more transit routes and destinations with right-sized vehicles that can increase efficiency. In order to maximize the benefits of autonomy, we must also consider how to effectively introduce AVs alongside existing mobility options, prioritize accessibility for people with disabilities and older adults, and educate riders on how to interact with these new services.

Panelists:

• Allanté Whitmore, Director, Autonomous Vehicle Initiative, Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE)
• Daisy Wall, Director of Government Business, May Mobility

The integration of on-demand autonomous vehicle (AV) services into public transport systems has the potential to revolutionize the way we move around our cities and rural areas. By providing more flexible and accessible transportation options, on-demand AV services could help reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and improve the overall efficiency of public transport networks. However, there are also a number of challenges associated with this integration, including concerns around safety, equity, and the impact on existing public transport services. This topic is of great interest to a wide range of stakeholders, including public transport authorities and operators, technology companies and citizens.

The panel will explore the opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of on-demand AV services into public transport systems, including the potential to improve the efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability of public transport. The discussion will also focus on the role of technology and policy in enabling this integration and ensuring that it is inclusive and equitable for all members of the community.

The virtual panel session brings together experts from various backgrounds such as public transport authority and technology companies. Panelists will share their perspectives on the potential benefits and risks of on-demand AV services in public transport and explore strategies for maximizing the positive impacts of these technologies.

Panelists:

• Christian Lichtmannecker – Mobileye
• Freya Hofmann – ioki – Digital Public Transport
• Lars Gunnar Lundestad – Ruter As

Earlier this year,  Zoox began operating its electric and autonomous vehicles on public roads in California. This was a major milestone for AV technology, as Zoox’s robotaxis are exclusively designed for autonomous passenger transportation—and therefore do not have a driver’s seat, steering wheel, or other controls for a human driver.

Zoox’s robotaxi highlights the opportunity to fundamentally rethink traditional vehicle designs, which revolve around the assumption of a human in the driver’s seat. This assumption was also built into many of the decades-old regulations that govern vehicles in the United States, known as the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

Amanda Prescott, Director of Homologation at Zoox, joined us on the PAVEcast to discuss how the company worked to deploy their robotaxi within a federal regulatory framework that was designed with human drivers in mind. Amanda led Zoox’s effort to gain approval to operate its robotaxi on public roads in California, as well as the company’s process to self-certify its robotaxi to FMVSS. Tune in to hear Amanda discuss how Zoox navigated legacy vehicle regulations to make their innovative robotaxi service a reality. 

Humanising Autonomy has every intention of staying true to their name as they work to ensure that machines and AI can better understand naturalistic human behavior and intention. As smart machines become more ubiquitous in our lives, understanding how to connect the comprehension of machines to people in the real world will become more important than ever. 

In this episode of the PAVEcast, we will dive into how Humanising Autonomy is working to bridge the gap between humans and machines. By teaching computers to understand the nuances of human behavior, Humanising Autonomy is hoping to increase the safety, efficiency, and utility of automated machines.

Join us as we talk with Kim Vigilia, vice president of strategy at Humanising Autonomy, for a great discussion about the future of machine learning and comprehension.  

PAVE works closely with member organization National Federation of the Blind to support technologies that could provide new transportation and mobility options for blind people. In this edition of the PAVEcast, we sat down with John Pare, Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy at NFB, on the convention floor of CES in Las Vegas.

In the wide-ranging conversation, John shared the promise that AV technology offers for blind individuals, what some of NFB’s priorities are for 2023, and how partnerships with technology companies and groups like PAVE can help them to reach their goals.

Recent studies have shown that the successful deployment of connected and automated vehicles will largely depend on public opinion. Expectations and concerns are essential components driving the speed of market uptake and final adoption of these technologies. Citizens currently have mixed perceptions of autonomous vehicles (AVs), with excitement about the technology’s potential for improving transportation and reducing accidents, but also concerns about safety, cybersecurity, and job loss. They also envision a future where AVs improve accessibility for those who currently have difficulty using traditional forms of transportation.

Studies suggest that citizens expect AVs to become more prevalent on the roads in the next decade, with a growing number of people considering using AVs for daily commutes. They also expect AVs to be more affordable, more accessible and safer than human-driven vehicles.

In this first PAVE Europe Panel, we will talk to experts from the private and the public sector about how they envisage the current state of AV technology in Europe, and how citizens view the technology and its potential impact on transportation and mobility. The panelists will share their insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for the implementation of AVs in Europe, and how it might impact the society as a whole.

Guests:

• Monica Grosso – Scientific/Technical Support OfficerTransport Economist, European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre
• Arwed Schmidt – Director Strategic Initiatives – Passenger Transportation, Easymile
• Laura Alčiauskaitė – Project Coordinator, European Network on Independent Living (ENIL)

For the past hundred years, automobiles and insurance have been interwoven.  So, as vehicles become increasingly automated,  the insurance industry has to grow and adapt. 

Currently, automotive insurance calculations rely on decades of actuarial data, crash statistics, and legacy methodologies to determine risk and liability. With a new era of AV technology on the horizon, what will insurance look like?

In this episode of the PAVEcast, we chatted with Steve Miller, Innovation Lead with the Insurance Office of America to discuss how the insurance industry is preparing for autonomy. We wanted to know how insurance companies evaluate AVs and what it will look like to provide coverage of a vehicle without a driver.

Listen in for a great conversation about how insurance is adapting to an autonomous future.

PAVE Member Oxbotica - the UK-based global leader in autonomous vehicle software for businesses - is on a mission to make the Earth move better by unlocking the benefits of self-driving technology to every person and organisation on the planet.Together with Australian-based electronic and software technology company, Applied EV, they are accelerating the commercial applications of fully autonomous, zero-occupancy vehicles.

At CES 2023, we were thrilled to sit down with the CEOs of both companies to discuss the year ahead for their organizations and their vision for the partnership. In this PAVEcast, Oxbotica CEO Gavin Jackson and Applied EV CEO Julian Broadbent provided some insight into their joint project: a vehicle that is designed for a wide range of environments and commercial applications, beginning with industrial logistics and goods delivery.

Join host Lukas Neckermann from PAVE Europe for an insightful discussion with these two AV leaders!

PAVE member Gatik is an AV trucking company focused on the “middle-mile,” delivering goods from fulfillment centers to pick-up points such as retail stores and distribution centers. The company has seen significant growth and has announced major partnerships, including with Walmart in the U.S. and Loblaw in Canada.

We wanted to hear more about what’s on the horizon for Gatik, so we sat down with Rich Steiner, Gatik’s Head of Policy and Communication, on the convention floor of CES in Las Vegas. 

In this episode of the PAVEcast, Steiner shared where Gatik is headed in 2023 and their vision for expansion and scaling in the future. He discussed how companies like Gatik fit into supply chain management and shared Gatik’s approach to safety, regulation, inclement weather, and more.

Tune in for this wide-ranging conversation with Gatik at CES! 

PAVE member Ouster is a leading lidar manufacturer that has worked to transform lidar from an analog device with thousands of components to a digital device powered by one chip-scale laser array and sensor.

At CES 2023, we sat down with Ouster CEO and Co-founder Angus Pacala to talk about the company’s plans for 2023 and to hear his thoughts on the lidar industry’s growth and future.  He also shared his vision for the recently-announced merger between Ouster and Velodyne Lidar. 

You won’t want to miss this PAVEcast discussion on the “vision” for the future of autonomous vehicle technology!

The Governors Highway Safety Association is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving highway safety by addressing the behavioral issues that lead to crashes, injuries, and deaths on America’s roads. GHSA works with the highway safety offices in every U.S. state on programs to improve traffic safety.

At CES 2023, the PAVEcast sat down with GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins for a great conversation about his organization’s mission and their vision for how new technologies can help to reduce road fatalities.

Listen in to find out how GHSA sees technological innovation as an important tool in its goal to move toward zero deaths on U.S. highways.

Mobileye, founded by the AV pioneer Professor Amnon Shashua, is a leading technology company that produces wide-ranging products from ADAS solutions, to a self-driving system for autonomous public transport or goods delivery, to consumer AVs. 

At CES 2023, Prof. Shashua presented the company’s philosophy, vision, and goals for the year ahead to a standing-room crowd. In this PAVEcast episode, PAVE Executive Director Tara Andringa sat down with Professor Shai Shalev-Shwartz, the Chief Technology Officer of Mobileye, for an insightful chat about Mobileye’s mobility solutions, their approach to scaling technology, and what’s on the horizon for 2023.

Tune in to hear about Mobileye’s innovative approach to building the AV future!

Join us as we catch up with PAVE member AEye at CES in Las Vegas to talk about their plans for 2023 and beyond. We’ll be discussing how Aeye is bringing autonomy solutions to market and their groundbreaking approach to vehicle perception. 

In this episode, we will also be discussing the results of the Safer Mobility Survey, which AEye and PAVE recently conducted to gain some insight into consumer opinions regarding technology and vehicle safety. 

Tune in for an exciting AV conversation to jumpstart 2023!

AV trucking has the potential to transform the way goods are moved across the country. From enhancing highway safety to increasing the efficiency of trucking fleets, AV technology may usher in a new generation of overland freight hauling in the United States. 

Torc Robotics has been working to bring new transportation solutions to the freight industry for many years. Torc has developed many new approaches to incorporating autonomy into trucking and the company’s longevity has given them the opportunity to forge important partnerships in the automotive industry.

In this episode of the PAVEcast, we have a conversation with Nick Elder, the Torc Robotics Director of Strategy, who talks about the history of Torc Robotics, their approach to AV trucking, and how they plan to advance the self-driving trucking sector for years to come.

This year’s PAVE Gift Guide includes editions of the Emmy-winning sci-fi show Westworld, which takes viewers to a future where robots, artificial intelligence, and autonomous vehicles are prevalent. The show – set in a futuristic fantasy park – provides an interesting fictional portrayal of what AVs could look like in society.

Of course, behind the scenes is an entire team of creative minds, so we wanted to see how they went about bringing AVs to life on screen. We are excited to chat with Westworld designer Victor Martinez, a concept designer with more than 20 years’ experience in the entertainment industry. His work on Westworld includes the visual design of the show’s autonomous motorcycle, rideshare vehicle, ambulance, and tactical SUV. 

Listen to this special holiday #PAVEpanel to explore the creative vision behind Westworld’s autonomous vehicles!

www.instagram.com/victorjmartinez
victor-martinez.com
artstation.com/artist/victormartinez

Drivers who live in cold weather climates learn how to manage snow and ice on the roads – and winter-weather driving is indeed a learned skill. We wondered: how do #AV developers teach cars to handle icy road conditions, particularly when road markings are obscured? 

Most AV deployments are in warm weather climates, where clear weather is more common and road surfaces haven’t been battered by ice and salt. We wanted to hear about the unique challenges of operating in cold weather conditions. What are the most difficult challenges to overcome?

In this episode, we will talk to experts from the private and public sector about  how they are tackling the challenge of operating #AVs in winter weather. ❄️

Guests:

• Dave Tokic - VP Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, Algolux
• Tara Olds - Deputy Director of Connected and Automated Vehicles Office, Minnesota Department of Transportation

Autonomous trucking has the potential to transform the freight business and solve some of the industry’s biggest challenges like driver shortage, increasing costs, and demand for faster ship times. In this episode, we’ll talk to Kodiak Robotics about their plan to tackle these challenges.

Over the past year, Kodiak has expanded commercial freight operations and forged partnerships with fleet, network and service partners as key efforts towards commercializing the Kodiak Driver as a service solution.

Michael Wiesinger, Kodiak’s head of commercialization, will talk about how Kodiak is collaborating with fleet and service partners to safely deploy and scale self-driving trucks

Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun launched her AV company in 2021 with the vision to bring a next-generation self-driving solution to the market with interpretable AI and sophisticated simulation.
 
For the 100th edition of our PAVE virtual panel series, Raquel will join PAVE Executive Director Tara Andringa for a fireside chat to reflect on her 20-year career in artificial intelligence, to share her predictions for the AV industry, and for a special announcement of what’s next for Waabi.

As connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies evolve, these vehicles will become increasingly common in our communities, and the public will have an opportunity to experience the technology first-hand. And Canada is getting ready: all levels of government, industry and the public are planning for this transportation future.
 
 But the introduction of this new technology raises many questions:  What autonomous vehicles will we see first? Who is liable if things go wrong? And what does the public think?
 
 We’ve assembled CAV experts from across Canada to address these questions and share their insights into the CAV evolution.
 
 We hope you enjoy this all-star discussion, sponsored by Waabi, NuPort Robotics, CAVCOE, Marsh, and PAVE Canada.

Last April, we assembled a panel of AV leaders to discuss what the transformative power of AV technology could mean for promoting racial equity in transportation.  Six months later, we are re-assembling our all-star panel for a deeper look at this critical conversation.
 
 In Part 2, our panelists will go beyond identifying race-based inequality as an issue and focus on strategies and tactics the industry can take to operationalize equity.  The group will discuss strategies – including fostering partnerships with important stakeholder groups – that can help to connect with Black communities.
 
 Moderator:

• Henry L. Greenidge, Esq. – EVP, Tusk Strategies

Panelists:

• Dr. Nadia Anderson – Director, Federal Affairs, INRIX
• Dr. Shelley Francis – Co-founder & Managing Partner, EVNoire, Co-founder & Executive Director, EVHybridNoire

The safe deployment of autonomous vehicles requires exhaustive testing — more testing, in fact, than any product in history. And public confidence in AVs will be greater if people are aware of this intensive testing process and can see the millions of miles traveled, the edge cases considered, and the countless simulations run.

So we want to take a look into AV testing: How are vehicles tested? What do concepts like verification and validation mean? And how do developers determine when a vehicle is ready for the road?

Sunmin Kim, Director of Public Policy at Applied Intuition, and Tim Dawkins, Senior Technical Director with Einride, join us for a conversation on how their companies are using rigorous testing and simulation strategies to ensure AVs meet the highest standards of safety and reliability.

 Panelists:

• Sunmin Kim - Director of Public Policy,  Applied Intuition
• Tim Dawkins - Senior Technical Director, Einride

The evolution of automated vehicle technology continues to grow by leaps and bounds. AV technology is diverse, complex, and constantly changing but for all the promises that an autonomous vehicle future holds, we have ways to ensure that the technology is operating how it should. Having a clear window into AV operations is critical for both the safety of the technology and for building public trust.

PAVE member Applied Intuition is a company on a mission to ensure that those who are developing AV technology have the tools they need to do it correctly, efficiently, and with a high degree of fidelity. To advance this important goal, Applied Intuition recently published a Handbook titled: Verification and Validation at Different Stages of ADAS and ADS Development. 

Join us in this edition of the PAVEcast to learn more about AV testing and validation as we have a conversation with Sunmin Kim, Director of Public Policy at Applied Intuition and Kenny Hoang, Product Manager at Applied Intuition who leads the development of the company's verification and validation product suite.

PAVE members believe that public trust is necessary for AVs to reach their potential.  But what does the public currently think about AVs?
 
 PAVE teamed with J.D. Power and MIT’s AgeLab for the second annual Mobility Confidence Index (MCI) Study to explore consumer readiness and understanding of automated vehicles. In this panel, we talk to two leaders of the study, Lisa Boor from J.D. Power and Chaiwoo Lee from the MIT AgeLab, to hear what the study found, how consumer attitudes have changed, and what more can be done to build public confidence.
 
Guests:

Lisa Boor – Global Senior Manager, J.D. Power

Chaiwoo Lee – Research Scientist, MIT AgeLab

October is #PedestrianSafetyMonth, so it is a great time to look at how AV technology can make the roads safer for everyone, both in and out of the vehicle. 

Like drivers, automated safety features in vehicles rely on quick access to information about the environment in order to make driving decisions. Many PAVE members create products that collect, analyze, and interpret data to help vehicles drive safely and effectively.

In this panel, we chat with PAVE member GPR which creates subterranean maps to enable precise vehicle positioning – within a few centimeters – regardless of poor weather or visibility or faint road markings. 

GPR Co-Founder and CEO Tarik Bolat discusses how maps and sensors provide quick, accurate, reliable information to improve safety for all road users.

Autonomous Vehicles require new technologies, and those new systems require workers with new skills and expertise. Across the country, colleges and universities are developing programs to help prepare students for these jobs in the constantly-expanding AV ecosystem.

We wanted to know: What are the skills required for these new jobs? And what kinds of programs best prepare students for the AV workforce?

In this episode, we look at a new partnership between PAVE member Aurora and Pittsburgh Technical College, which offers students an associate’s degree in robotics and automated engineering technology. You will hear about their 18-month program that will train a new generation of engineering service technicians to fill critical job openings in the AV industry, and we’ll also hear from an expert at Carnegie Mellon regarding AV workforce development.

Guests:

Matt Blackburn - Senior Manager of Government Relations, Aurora
Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith - President, Pittsburgh Technical College
Rachel Burcin - Global Programs Director, Carnegie Mellon University

Peachtree Corners, Georgia, is one of the United States’ first 5G smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure, and its Curiosity Lab is an innovation hub for real-world testing with intelligent mobility and smart city technology.

What exactly does a smart city look like? What are the biggest challenges? And what lessons have they learned that can help other communities on this journey?

In this panel, we  talk to Brandon Branham, Assistant City Manager/CTO, City of Peachtree Corners, and one of their key partners – Itai Dadon, Vice President of Smart Infrastructure from Ouster – about the vision for Peachtree Corners and the collaboration necessary to make that vision become reality.

Guests:

Brandon Branham – Assistant City Manager/CTO, City of Peachtree Corners
Itai Dadon – Vice President of Smart Infrastructure, Ouster

Autonomous vehicle technology is growing around the world. In China, many innovative companies are developing AV technology to address the growing demand for modern, safe mobility solutions. The complex urban centers and diverse landscapes of China offer endless possibilities for the testing, development, and deployment of AV systems.

DeepRoute.ai is the perfect example of a successful Chinese AV company. Headquartered in Shenzhen China, Deeproute.ai has been making strides in developing affordable AV Robotaxis for mass production. Deeproute.AI has also deployed medium-duty trucks to support local communities during the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Shenzhen.  

Join us for this episode of PAVEcast as we talk to DeepRoute.ai CEO Maxwell Zhou about how their team is developing AV technology and learn a little about the state of AVs in China.

In a global economy, goods travel across borders from manufacturer to market faster than ever before. While intermodal transportation has been key to the modern system of freight movement, the recent challenges with international supply chains have shown that gaps remain.

Automation, digitization, and data analytics are evolving to make shipping even more efficient by reducing transition times, enhancing safety, and incorporating AI into logistics planning. When looking at modern supply chain solutions, AV trucking may already have the built-in tools to easily integrate into a new, modern freight and intermodal transportation system.

In this PAVEcast episode,  guests Finch Fulton, Vice President of Policy and Strategy at Locomation; Dan Morgan, Chief Data Officer at U.S. DOT; and Selika Talbott, Adjunct Professor at University of Southern California & Founding Partner of Autonomous Vehicle Consulting, LLC, break down how AV trucking is well-positioned to uncork supply chain bottlenecks and usher in an era of efficiency for freight.

Guests:

• Finch Fulton – Vice President of Policy and Strategy, Locomation
• Selika Talbott – Adjunct Professor, University of Southern California & Founding Partner of Autonomous Vehicle Consulting, LLC
• Dan Morgan – Chief Data Officer, U.S. DOT

Many vehicles today have partially automated features, which can increase vehicle safety and provide conveniences for drivers. 

These systems are often seen as the “middle ground” for automation in vehicles, but how do drivers feel about the technology as it becomes more common and increases in capability? Also, what are driver attitudes about automation in terms of driver control versus vehicle system control?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently conducted a survey of consumer attitudes regarding partial automation features in vehicles. The survey focused on lane centering, automated lane changing and driver monitoring features specifically.

Check out our newest PAVEcast episode where Dr. Alexandra Mueller from IIHS discusses the results of the survey and what driver attitudes teach us about the public’s readiness for greater levels of automation in vehicles. We’ll also learn what factors most influence people’s beliefs about automation in vehicles and what can cause people to change their minds. 

In many states, the AV industry and elected officials are working together to make the In many states, the AV industry and elected officials are working together to make the future of transportation a reality. When creating laws that allow vehicles with higher levels of automation to take to the roads, leadership in state legislatures is important.

On November 1st, a newly signed law will take effect in Oklahoma authorizing fully autonomous vehicles to operate under certain conditions. When enacted, Oklahoma will join other states along the important I-40 corridor that allow the deployment of AV vehicles for freight hauling and other commercial purposes.

Oklahoma State House Representative Nicole Miller and Kodiak Robotics Head of External Affairs Daniel Goff joins us to discuss how Oklahoma is taking the next step in embracing the benefits that AV technology can bring to freight trucking. In this episode, Rep. Miller will describe how she successfully brought people together to pass AV legislation critical to the future of her state.


Guests:

• Rep. Nicole Miller – Chair of Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 82
• Dan Goff – Head of External Affairs, Kodiak Robotics

Traditionally, the word “infrastructure” conjures images of highways, bridges, and railroad tracks. Although it seems less visible than sidewalks and orange traffic cones, our digital infrastructure impacts nearly every aspect of our daily lives.

As automated vehicles become increasingly sophisticated, what does that mean for our digital infrastructure? 

Dr. Dan McGehee from the University of Iowa, who is the director of the National Advanced Driving Simulator, joins us to discuss digital infrastructure in highly automated driving. He will describe the layered digital infrastructure of the future and how it will work with next generation vehicles.

How much does the public know about autonomous vehicles? 

Does the public trust AV technology?

PAVE teamed with J.D. Power and MIT’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Consortium to conduct a survey of the Canadian public’s knowledge of AV technology (an identical study of the U.S. population will be released later this year). In this virtual panel discussion, we will look at the survey’s findings and discuss what it means for the future of AVs.

Guests:

• Lisa Boor – Sr. Manager, Auto Benchmarking and Mobility Development, J.D. Power
• Andrew Phillips – Manager, Automated and Connected Vehicle Safety Programs, Transport Canada

Automated vehicles are a global phenomenon, with global impacts and global challenges. Around the world, countries are contemplating how to introduce AVs into the transportation system in a way that ensures the technology creates change for the better, and they’re taking different approaches to AV regulation, testing and deployment, and integrating the technology into public transit systems.

In a new series, “AVs Around the World,” PAVE will spotlight different countries and talk to stakeholders about how they’re approaching the AV future.  How is this technology regulated? What forms of AV technology are deployed? What has public reception been?

In our first episode of “AVs Around the World,” we look at AVs in Switzerland, where they have actively sought to integrate AV technology into their robust public transit system. We will talk to Oliver Nahon from the Swiss Association for Autonomous Mobility and Stafano Lungo, the Head of Automated Driving at Embotech, about how AVs are transforming the Swiss transportation system.

Panelists:

• Oliver Nahon – Strategic Manager, Swiss Association for Autonomous Mobility
• Stefano Lungo – Head of Automated Driving, Embotech

During May, PAVE’s panels are focused on how autonomous vehicle technology can serve the public good. While AV deployments in urban environments get lots of attention, our next panel will examine important work in the State of Ohio on how AV technology can serve rural communities.

Funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation ADS Demonstration Grant,  DriveOhio, the state’s AV initiative, is testing AV applications for trucks and passenger vehicles in Southeast Ohio. The region is an excellent place to challenge AV technology: it has a four-season climate and a diverse landscape that includes steep terrain and winding roads. Residents in this Appalachian region face significant challenges in transportation and connectivity, including lack of public transit options, long travel distances, and limited internet access. 

Our guests will discuss the goals of the test program, how AV technology can help Southeast Ohioans overcome their transportation challenges, and how the findings could help communities nationwide.

Guests:

• Dr. Sarah El-Dabaja – Transportation Engineer, Ohio DOT District 10
• Dr. Jay Wilhelm – Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Ohio University
• Dr. Joshua Every – Executive Director, Operations, Transportation Research Center, Inc.

During the month of May, PAVE’s panels are focused on places where AVs are in action, being tested and deployed to serve the public good.

Nuro is building and operating electric, autonomous delivery vehicles. Since 2019, Nuro has completed deliveries in Houston of groceries, prescriptions, and hot food in partnership with Kroger, Domino’s, CVS, and the Houston Food Bank. Increasing food insecurity in Houston has highlighted the potential for autonomous delivery to help expand equitable access to goods for people that live in food deserts and for people with disabilities.

Panelists from Nuro and the City of Houston joined us to discuss how the service works, the impact for local residents, and lessons learned.

Guests:

• Kandace Cooks – Diversity, Inclusion and Belong Lead, Nuro
• Council Member Edward Pollard – Houston City Council

Autonomous vehicle technologies offer incredible potential: they could make our highways safer, they could offer new mobility options for people who can’t drive, and they could help create a more equitable transportation system for those who are not well-served by our current system.

During the month of May, we are highlighting places where AVs are in use — today — being deployed, tested, and used for public good. We want to look at examples of the technology being used to serve food deserts, to expand access to rural communities, to offer new accessibility options, and more.

We are starting with the Trenton MOVES initiative, which is the first large-scale urban transit system in America based entirely on self-driving shuttles. The shuttles, which carry four to eight passengers, serve traditionally underserved Trenton neighborhoods, where 70% of households have limited access to a single automobile, or no access at all. Our panelists will detail the program, describing how it works, the results it has achieved, and their vision for the future.

Guests:

• Dr. Alain Kornhauser – Professor, Princeton University & Initiator, Smart Driving Cars
• Jerry He – Executive Director, Corporation for Automated Road Transportation Safety (CARTS)

Autonomous vehicles hold the promise of the greatest transformation of American transportation since the dawn of the auto age. One test of that promise: Can the AV industry avoid, or even counteract, the ways in which the current transportation system has allowed and even accelerated racial inequality and injustice, from under-served rural communities to city centers divided by expressways? 

In this PAVEcast episode, we will explore what lessons AV developers have learned from the last century of transportation when it comes to fighting rather than exacerbating inequality, and we’ll discuss how to ensure Black Americans are part of the discussion about AVs and share in the economic opportunities they offer.

Black transportation leaders will join this panel to share their hopes and fears about autonomous vehicles, and we’ll discuss what lessons the past can provide for the future of transportation.

Guests:

• Henry L. Greenidge, Esq. – EVP, Tusk Strategies
• Dr. Nadia Anderson – Director, Federal Affairs, INRIX
• Dr. Shelley Francis – Co-founder & Managing Partner, EVNoire, Co-founder & Executive Director, EVHybridNoire

Autonomous vehicles may bring about many changes in society, but one question we hear frequently is what this technology may mean for the job market.

Students wonder what classes they need to take to be prepared for AV-related jobs, while current workers may worry that their job could be altered or eliminated by automation. In this PAVEcast episode, we’ll talk to people across the industry to hear their story of working in the AV ecosystem, and we’ll discuss the trends they see for the future.

Guests:

• Dr. Till Hartmann – Director of Research, Perceptive Automata
• Dr. Nick Goodnight – Associate Professor of Diesel and Construction Technology, Ivy Tech Community College – Fort Wayne
• Indu Vijayan – Director of Product Management, AEye, Inc. & Founder of Women in Autonomy

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have taken the mobility world by storm since 2010, greatly expanding traditional taxi services that have been operating for decades. As autonomous vehicle technologies enter the scene, what does that mean for ridesharing?

In this PAVEcaset episode, we discuss the impact that AV technology might have on the future of ridesharing. Our panelists will talk about the possibilities this could open up, what that means for passengers, how to scale the technology, and what they predict for the future.

Guests:

• Bert Kaufman – Head of Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Zoox
• Sergio Avedian – Senior Contributor, The Rideshare Guy
• Mollie Cohen D’Agostino – Policy Director 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program, Institute of Transportation Studies at UC-Davis

As autonomous vehicle technology becomes an increasingly visible piece of the transportation future, states are actively preparing for an autonomous future. There are countless questions they need to answer: What do these new technologies mean for infrastructure, first responders, or public transit systems?  What new policies or regulations are necessary?

We’ve invited officials from Maryland and Texas to join us for a discussion about what AV technology means for state transportation departments. They’ll share the changes they have seen so far and what they foresee in the future.

Guests:

• Darran Anderson – Director of Strategy and Innovation, Texas DOT
• Nanette Schieke – CAV Program Manager, Office of Innovation Maryland DOT

PAVE and the University of Michigan’s Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT) share a common goal of providing education on automated vehicles. We are excited to have Dr. Henry Liu, Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan and the Director at the Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT) join us for this exclusive PAVEcast episode.

Guest: Dr. Henry Liu, Director at the University of Michigan's Center for Connected and Automated Transportation

CCAT

Website: https://ccat.umtri.umich.edu/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/UMichCCAT
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UMichCCAT
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/CenterForConnectedAndAutomatedTransportation/

Mcity

Website: https://mcity.umich.edu/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/um-mcity/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UMichMcit
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfJr7b987wY32I6QtIW0g2g

Do you have a question about autonomous vehicles you want answered? Maybe you’ve seen examples of self-driving cars on tv and want to know how realistic they are? Or you want to know if there are places where you can get pizza delivered in an autonomous pod?

PAVE has assembled some leading experts to answer all of your questions.

In this episode, we’ll ask our panelists to address some of the most common questions, misunderstandings, and misinformation about autonomous vehicle technology. They will deconstruct where the confusion comes from and provide the hype-free facts.

Guests

• Bryant Walker Smith – Associate Professor of Law, University of South Carolina
• Anuja Sonalker, Ph.D – CEO & Founder, STEER

One of the most common questions we hear about autonomous vehicles is “when will AVs be here?” … and the honest answer is: “well, it depends on where ‘here’ is!”

In this conversation, we will discuss why a better question may be “Where will AVs be?”

In this PAVEcast episode, we’ll explore the concept of the operating domain. We’ll talk about what makes some domains particularly suitable for AVs, what operating domains look like for today’s AVs, how mapping plays into these issues, and more!

Guests

• Sven Beiker, PhD – Managing Director, Silicon Valley Mobility
• Carter Stern – Senior Government Affairs Manager, Cruise

Moderator

• Tabitha Colter - Director of Operations, PAVE

Arlington RAPID, one of the first programs in the United States to integrate on-demand, autonomous vehicles (AVs) into an existing public transportation service, has provided more than 28,000 trips in its first year to residents, university students, and visitors around Downtown Arlington and The University of Texas at Arlington campus.

Since March 2021, the city has operated Arlington RAPID (Rideshare, Automation, and Payment Integration Demonstration) in partnership with Via, May Mobility, and UT Arlington through a grant provided by the Federal Transit Administration. The pilot program offers shared rides in autonomous vehicles, operated by May Mobility, through Arlington’s on-demand public transit system, Via Arlington. With a 98% rider satisfaction rating, it’s clear that the Arlington community embraced the pilot program.

In March 2022, the North Central Texas Council of Governments awarded the City of Arlington a new grant, which will enable RAPID to expand service and operate at least  through 2024.

In celebration of the anniversary of its launch, PAVE’s Tabitha Colter sat down with UT Arlington, the City of Arlington, Via Transportation, and May Mobility to reflect on lessons learned, how AVs fit into the future of mass transit, and much more. 

Guests:

• Ann Foss - Office of Strategic Initiatives, City of Arlington
• Dr. Sharareh Kermanshachi - Associate Professor, UT Arlington
• Fawna Tucker - Customer Success Manager, May Mobility
• Meghan Grela - Associate Principal, Via Transportation

Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science focused on enabling robots and computers to perform tasks usually done by humans. This is a complicated concept, but it is critical to understanding how an autonomous system in a vehicle can work.

This discussion will look at the relationship between AI and AVs. We will demystify some of the key concepts of AI, we’ll discuss the role it plays in an autonomous vehicle system, we’ll look at how an AI-driven vehicle differs from a human-operated one, and more.

Panelists

• Mohammad Musa – Founder and CEO, Deepen AI
• Patrick Musau – PhD Candidate, Vanderbilt University
• Dave Tokic – VP Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, Algolux

Moderator

• Tabitha Colter - Director of Operations, PAVE

Throughout history, humans have seen new technologies through the lens of what came before – such as when the first cars were called “horseless carriages.”  As the technology advances, of course, these terms seem absurd in hindsight. 

Autonomous vehicles face this challenge today, as many of the most common misperceptions of this technology, and its possible futures, trace back to thinking of them purely as cars that happen to drive themselves. 

In this PAVEcast episode, we’ll start to recognize how our understanding of cars shapes our view of AVs. Our panelists will discuss the important lessons this influence filters out, why “driverless cars” are actually just one of many applications of autonomous technology, and how to start building a mental model for AVs that frees us from this subconscious constraint.

Panelists

• Adam Campbell – Senior Manager, Safety Innovation and Impact, Gatik
• John Lenneman, Ph.D. – Senior Principal Engineer, Collaborative Safety Research Center, Toyota Motor North America
• Joseph Putney – VP of Commercial Systems, RR.AI

Moderator

• Tabitha Colter - Director of Operations, PAVE

One of the most pressing highway safety issues we face today is helping drivers to understand the difference between autonomous driving – where the car is in control – and driver assistance features, which require an attentive driver behind the wheel.  Every car for sale today requires an attentive driver.

There are many ways to think and talk about the distinction between autonomy and driver assistance, and we can communicate the core elements of the distinction simply. However, digging beneath that surface level reveals a wealth of fascinating and important dynamics.

In this PAVEcast episode, our panelists explore the differences in function, operation, design and the human role in ways that connect effective public communication with the underlying realities of these different technologies.

Guests

• Hilary Cain – Vice President of Technology, Innovation & Mobility Policy, Alliance for Automotive Innovation
• Steve Neemeh – Chief Technical Officer (CTO), LHP Engineering Solutions
• Brad Stertz – Director of Government Affairs, Audi of America

New technologies – from ride hailing to micromobility to sidewalk robots – could increase flexibility and convenience for city residents, but they can also create challenges with clutter, safety, logistics, and congestion.

In this PAVEcast episode, we look at the lessons that the AV sector can learn from some of these product rollouts, how to improve communication and build informed consent with local communities and governments, and why these trust-building measures are in the technology’s best interests.

Panelists

• Monica Laufer – Public Policy and Government Relations Manager, Argo AI
• Sabrina Sussman – Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Advisor, Ballast Research
• Marla Westervelt – Head of Policy, Coalition for Reimagined Mobility

Moderator

• Ed Niedermeyer - Communications Director, PAVE

Many people think of AVs as mid-century futurist visions of self-driving cars, but some of the most interesting work in the driving automation space is happening in public transit. Communities worldwide are piloting AV technology — from Bus Rapid Transit to microtransit — to learn how to integrate these new technologies into existing public transit systems. In this PAVEcast episode, we examine why public transit is a promising option for AVs, search for lessons learned, and start to imagine where automation could make some of the biggest impacts.

Panelists

Meghan Grela – Autonomous Mobility Lead, Via Transportation
Nathaniel Horadam – Managing Consultant and Autonomous Vehicle Specialist, Center for Transportation and the Environment
Tim Haile – Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority

Moderator

Ed Niedermeyer - Communications Director, PAVE

Cars have greatly shaped American cities, sometimes in ways that have not optimized livability for city residents. As driving automation technology allows us to rethink our current transportation system, we have the opportunity to imagine cities and the ways we get around them as a co-developed system. In this PAVEcast episode, we look at the relationship between urban development and urban mobility, and how to harmonize these concepts in the city of tomorrow.

Guests

• Avery Ash – Head of Autonomous Mobility, INRIX
• Sarah Kaufman – Associate Director, Rudin Center for Transportation at NYU Wagner Graduate School
• Greg Rogers – Public Policy Manager, Nuro

Moderator

• Ed Niedermeyer - Director of Communications, PAVE

Following up on our conversation of “The Road Ahead with PAVE Chair and Executive Officers", PAVE Executive Director Tara Andringa sat down with members of our board of directors executive committee to discuss the state of the sector and automated vehicle education in the year ahead in the part 2 episode. 

Featuring the diverse perspectives of members representing established automakers, autonomous vehicle developers, automated trucking companies and trade groups, this wide-ranging conversation provides an overview of where we are and where we’re heading.

Learn more about the AV industry’s views on regulation, safety engineering, the economic factors driving automated vehicle investments, insurance, accessibility and much more in this fascinating discussion with industry leaders.

Guests

• Brad Stertz – PAVE Chair & Director of Government Affairs at Audi of America
• Mitch Kominsky – PAVE Vice-Chair & Director of Government Affairs for Self-Driving Vehicles at CTA
• Melissa Froelich – PAVE Secretary & Director of Government Relations at Aurora
• Finch Fulton – PAVE Treasurer & Vice President of Policy and Strategy at Locomation

Moderator

• Tara Andringa - Executive Director, PAVE

PAVE was not at CES in person this year, but we did take the opportunity to check in at Aeye’s virtual booth for a conversation with the lidar company’s head of marketing Steven Lambright.

Starting with the basic principles of lidar, our conversation goes into the deterministic nature of these sensors, how they complement an automated driving system’s probabilistic functions, how Aeye is making lidar more intelligent, what it takes to get those sensors onto production vehicles, and much more.

If you’re interested in digging a bit deeper into lidar, and exploring its role in an automated driving system and understanding the difference between deterministic sensing and probabilistic inference, you’ll be sure to get a lot out of this conversation.

Most AV research focuses on urban and suburban areas, where the technology could improve congestion or other urban mobility challenges. But how might driving automation improve the lives of rural Americans? That is the question that the University of Iowa’s National Advanced Driver Simulator seeks to answer with their “ADS for Rural America” automated shuttle project. In this PAVEcast episode, we welcome leaders of this project to find out what they’ve learned about the challenges and opportunities facing rural automated mobility. 

Guests

• Omar Ahmad – Deputy Director, National Advanced Driver Simulator
• Dr. Dan McGehee – Director and Associate Professor, Industrial & Systems Engineering at University of Iowa

Moderator

• Tabitha Colter - Director of Operations, PAVE

The Insurance Institutes of Highway Safety is one of the premiere auto safety organizations in America, drawing on massive amounts of insurance industry data to analyze and address road safety issues. 

IIHS President David Harkey joins the PAVECast to discuss one of the most important and misunderstood issues at the intersection of automation and road safety: the safety issues related to human factors in the partially-automated Level 2 driver assistance systems available on today’s cars.

Harkey walks us through IIHS’s recently-announced seven principles for Level 2 system design, explores the psychological factors and behavioral risks underlying them, and explains where this important work is headed.

Journalists play a key role in forming the public’s views of automated vehicles, serving as the filter for much of what reaches through. Covering this complex and rapidly-changing space is full of unique challenges, so we try to regularly set aside time to hear from our friends in the media.  We are finishing up our month of “year ahead” panels to chat with some AV reporters about what it takes to cover this fascinating technology, how journalists keep themselves up to date, the challenges they navigate in day to day coverage – and what they see coming in 2022.

Guests

• Andrew Hawkins – Transportation Editor, The Verge
• Tanya Snyder – Transportation Reporter,  POLITICO

Moderator

• Ed Niedermeyer - Communications Director, PAVE

PAVE’s Board of Directors is made up of broad representatives across the AV ecosystem, including corporations, start-ups, and nonprofit organizations. For our next “road ahead” conversation, we welcome the members of PAVE’s Executive Committee, representing Audi of America, the Consumer Technology Association, Aurora, and Locomation, to share their vision of the AV landscape in 2022.

We hope you enjoy this opportunity to hear from these AV sector leaders, and take in their thoughts on everything from the state of the AV industry to how to cut through the hype and misunderstandings that plague the public’s understanding of this technology. They will reflect on the progress of the last year and discuss the challenges of AV education that PAVE will tackle in the year ahead.

Guests

• Brad Stertz – PAVE Chair & Director of Government Affairs at Audi of America
• Mitch Kominsky – PAVE Vice-Chair & Director of Government Affairs for Self-Driving Vehicles at CTA
• Melissa Froelich – PAVE Secretary & Director of Government Relations at Aurora
• Finch Fulton – PAVE Treasurer & Vice President of Policy and Strategy at Locomation

Moderator

• Tara Andringa - Executive Director, PAVE

We are excited to launch our first-ever PAVEcast episode with an exclusive conversation with Lynda Tran from the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

During its first year, the Biden administration spotlighted several issues related to driving automation technology, from new crash reporting rules to warnings about the need for drivers to remain attentive while using driver assistance features. 

Ms. Tran, the senior advisor and director of public engagement at DOT,  joined us to talk about the administration’s first year in office, their goals and priorities for the year ahead, and the importance of education in preparing for the autonomous future.

Guest:

• Lynda Tran – Senior Advisor and Director of Public Engagement, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation

Moderator:

• Tabitha Colter -  Director of Operations, PAVE

PAVE member, SafeAI, is bringing driving automation to some of the hardest-working vehicles on earth. We sat down with founder Bibhrajit Halder to learn more about his background in the DARPA Challenge, his early work for Caterpillar developing autonomous mining trucks, his work in on-road autonomy and his return to off-road mining and construction vehicle automation with SafeAI. As we explore Halder's diverse background, we learn about the differences between different use cases for driving automation, what makes them more and less viable, and where the technology is headed.

Guest

• Bibhrajit Halder - CEO and Found, SafeAI

Moderator

• Ed Niedermeyer - Communications Director, PAVE