Skip to main content

New US DOT committee to shape the future of automated transportation

The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) is seeking innovators and experts to join a cross-modal committee to shape the future of automated transportation technologies. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation (ACAT), which will serve as a critical resource for the Department in framing federal policy for the continued development and deployment of automated transportation. Members of the committee will assess th
October 20, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The 324 US Department of Transportation (US DOT) is seeking innovators and experts to join a cross-modal committee to shape the future of automated transportation technologies.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation (ACAT), which will serve as a critical resource for the Department in framing federal policy for the continued development and deployment of automated transportation.

Members of the committee will assess the Department’s current research, policy and regulatory support to advance the safe and effective use of autonomous vehicles. They will also engage in information gathering, develop technical advice and present recommendations to the Secretary on automated and connected road and transit vehicle technologies, enhanced freight movement technologies, railroad automated technologies, aviation automated navigation systems technologies, unmanned aircraft systems and advanced technology deployment in surface transportation environments. In particular, the committee will carry out these activities as they may relate to emerging or ‘not-yet-conceived’ innovations to ensure the Department is prepared when disruptive technologies emerge.

“This committee will help determine how, when, and where automated technology will transform the way we move,” said Foxx. “The Department has advanced some of the life-saving benefits of automated technologies, including automated vehicle policy, but we are looking outside the government for innovative and thoughtful leaders to uncover its full potential across all modes.”

The Department is seeking 15 individuals with cross-modal perspectives on issues like intelligent transportation systems (ITS), robotics, enhanced freight movement, air traffic control next generation technology, and advanced transportation technology deployment.

Related Content

  • Tighten up on cyber security before hackers infiltrate ITS infrastructure
    October 19, 2015
    This year’s ITS World Congress in Bordeaux will have three sessions dedicated to cyber security and the issue will also be addressed under connected and automated vehicles categories. Jon Masters finds out why. American security researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek attracted international press coverage recently when they demonstrated how they could hack into and take control of a vehicle from a remote laptop. While the implications are clearly serious for vehicle manufacturers, highway and transpor
  • UK Government fast tracks driverless cars
    July 30, 2014
    UK business secretary Vince Cable has announced two new measures today that give the green light for driverless cars to take to UK roads from January 2015. UK cities can now bid for a share of a US$16.9 million competition to host a driverless cars trial. The government is calling on cities to join together with businesses and research organisations to put forward proposals to become a test location. Up to three cities will be selected to host the trials from 2015 and each project is expected to last
  • ITS America applauds new bipartisan smart transportation caucus
    June 15, 2015
    ITS America has applauded the announcement by US Senators Gary peters and Cory Gardner that they are forming a bipartisan Senate Smart Transportation Caucus to focus on advancing new innovation in transportation technologies that will improve safety and efficiency. The Smart Transportation Caucus will encourage the development and deployment of existing and next-generation technologies including connected and automated vehicle safety technologies, smart infrastructure, advanced traffic and freight managemen
  • SwRI and USDOT operate connected vehicle affiliated test bed
    December 9, 2013
    In the US, the Texas-based Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is operating a connected vehicle affiliated test bed in cooperation with the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration. The DOT test bed project facilitates information exchange as well as access to tools and resources across other test bed facilities to support and encourage consistent future deployment of connected vehicle technologies. The project aims to advance the technology for full deplo