TRB Forum on Preparing for Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility: Mini-Workshop on the Importance and Role of Connectivity

TRB’s Forum on Preparing for Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility has released Transportation Research Circular E-C247: TRB Forum on Preparing for Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility.  The circular provides a summary of a February 2019 mini-workshop on the importance and role of connectivity within the automated vehicles and shared mobility environment.

Key takeaways from the workshop suggest that (1) more needs to be done to create consumer awareness of the differences between and the benefits of connected and automated vehicles; (2) two critically important reasons for connectivity are redundancy and the ability to see what sensors cannot; and (3) connectivity may require a different legislative and regulatory framework than exists today. Other takeaways include the following: consistency and interoperability are critical to the successful deployment of connectivity; there is fear regarding liability of a failure in connectivity; exploring use cases for connectivity is important; and the number of devices on the road should not be the sole measure of readiness.

The deployments of automated vehicles, shared mobility services, and other transformational transportation technologies have the potential to dramatically increase safety, reduce congestion, improve access, enhance sustainability, and spur economic development. However, success in meeting these goals is not assured, and there are significant risks that these deployments could cause unintended consequences.