ADS Demonstration Grantee – Transit AV Safety Operator & Public Outreach Lessons Learned
Date and Time: Monday, July 29, 2024: 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Indigo H
Cheryl Roe
AV Transportation & Outreach Specialist , University of Iowa, Driving Safety Research Institute
Presentation Description
The USDOT-funded Automated Driving Systems (ADS) for Rural America Demonstration project looked at the challenges of operating an ADS vehicle on all classes of rural roads in Iowa. This presentation will incorporate insights and experiences gained from the safety driver's perspective, alongside lessons learned from the public engagement and outreach efforts.
The project utilized a purpose-built Ford Transit vehicle that was ADA compliant and outfitted with several sensors to support the automation capabilities. The sensor suite included LiDAR, radar, cameras, and other sensors for observing and gathering data about the driving environment. This vehicle operated on 47 miles of roadways in Iowa at posted speed limits of up to 65 mph under automation. Supervised by a safety operator and co-pilot, the vehicle navigated a diverse route, covering urban roads, controlled access highways, ramps, unmarked roads, gravel pathways, and various parking areas, across all seasons and times of day. The route included stops at four destinations reflecting places of interest to rural Iowans. Each drive accommodated up to two members of the public, focused on individuals aged 65 and above or those facing transportation challenges due to mobility issues or visual impairment. The project comprised 80 drives divided into six data collection phases, each aimed at increasing the percentage of automated driving on the route while improving the performance and comfort during automated segments compared to previous phases. Data is now publicly available for analysis.
https://adsforruralamerica.uiowa.edu/
Speaker Biography
Cheryl Roe serves as the Automated Vehicle Transportation and Outreach Specialist at the University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute. With over two decades of experience in driving research, she has coordinated studies and developed protocols for on-road, naturalistic driving, and simulator studies, covering various driving topics including vehicle technology, distraction, impairment, drowsiness, foot pedal behavior, and seat belt behavior. Presently, Ms. Roe actively supports the Iowa Advisory Council on Automated Transportation and contributes to two ongoing studies focused on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). One study examines knowledge gaps among drivers involved in ADAS-related crashes or near-crashes and investigating officers, while the other aims to identify effective ADAS education methods. In her role as the safety lead for the ADS for Rural America study, Cheryl devised comprehensive safety protocols for testing, ensuring the well-being of the research team, the public riders and other road users. Serving as one of three safety operators, Cheryl leveraged her firsthand experience with the technology to make informed recommendations for software improvements to the developer, incorporating valuable feedback from riders. Furthermore, in her capacity as the research logistics coordinator, she actively participated in community events to promote public engagement and efficiently oversaw the recruitment and scheduling of all project participants.
Presentation File
IP-ADS Demonstration Grantee – Transit AV Safety Operator & Public Outreach Lessons Learned
Category
Invited Presenter