Highlights
HASS COE is actively engaged in a variety of research projects and activities that provide support and partnership to USDOT. Our primary focus is to review, assess, and validate the safety of highly automated systems, ensuring that these technologies meet rigorous safety standards. The commitment reinforces our dedication to advancing the safe implementation of automation in transportation systems.
Recent Collaborations
Quantum Technologies in Transportation
HASS COE has teamed up with the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Infrastructure to introduce a groundbreaking webinar and workshop series focused on the transformative potential of quantum-based technologies within the transportation sector. This initiative delves into the advancements in quantum information science, which is revolutionizing the landscape with developments in quantum computing, quantum-enhanced sensors, and communication systems. Learn more about how these technologies are setting new benchmarks in transportation.
Distributed Testing Strategy
Distributed testing systems—which enable the connection and system-of-systems testing of live or simulated, geographically dispersed actors—are used in various organizations across USDOT (e.g., Federal Highway Administration Cooperative Driving Automation Research, NASA/Federal Aviation Administration Laboratory Integrated Test Environment [NFLITE], and VOICES). Though these initiatives have shared awareness, no forum to date is known to exist for information sharing, consolidation of best practices, coordination, and leveraging resources and capabilities. To address this need, HASS COE seeks to convene and co-develop a Distributed Testing Strategy Working Group with partners from across USDOT. This working group will provide a forum for information sharing with the eventual goal of creating a joint roadmap that showcases various ongoing efforts and their synergies, and potential benefits in quality and efficiency through coordination. The membership of this group will be compromised of staff members from across all of USDOT, including various Operating Administrations and OST, and will also consider the addition of liaison representatives from other federal agencies. Contact joshua.every@dot.gov for more information.
Advanced Air Mobility Interagency Working Group
The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Interagency Working Group (IWG), supported by HASS COE, is pioneering the integration of automated flight technologies into the U.S. national airspace. Initiated by the Secretary of Transportation after the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act (Public Law No: 117-203) was signed into law in October 2022, the AAM IWG is dedicated to advancing research and regulatory frameworks. The mission of the AAM IWG is to foster leadership and interagency collaboration in the adoption and deployment of AAM, a transportation system that will move people and property by air using highly automated aircraft with advanced technologies in controlled and uncontrolled airspace within the U.S. Additionally, the AAM IWG was established to plan and coordinate efforts related to safety, operations, infrastructure, physical security and cybersecurity, and federal investment necessary for maturation of the national AAM ecosystem, particularly passenger carrying aircraft. This initiative ensures the safe and efficient integration of groundbreaking AAM technologies with the national airspace system. Contact denise.bakar@dot.gov for more information.
PennDOT ADS Grant Testing
Researchers in Pennsylvania have recently completed a crucial phase in their study on safely integrating vehicles with automated driving systems (ADS) into work zones. Supported by HASS COE and Volpe, the ADS Demo Grantees participated in a technical peer exchange focused on live on-road testing. These tests, which included safety drivers, are part of a multi-year study led by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in collaboration with HNTB, Michael Baker International, Drive Engineering, Deloitte, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. This milestone underscores significant progress in the research team’s efforts. Learn more.
AI Assurance in Transportation
As new AI technologies continually emerge within the transportation ecosystem, HASS COE is at the forefront USDOT’s efforts to delineate the challenges, opportunities, risks, and priorities associated with AI assurance. To foster enhanced coordination and collaboration across all Operating Administrations, HASS COE has initiated an AI Assurance workshop series. Alongside this, we are developing a series of whitepapers to thoroughly review and examine the existing AI assurance processes and technologies. Learn more.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Capstone Project
HASS COE proudly sponsored and supervised a student-led project with Virginia Tech’s Computational Modeling and Data Analytics science program. Three talented undergraduates—Cam Taylor, Joe Harrison, and John Lutz—worked under the guidance of HASS COE Senior Strategist Ashley Nylen, PMP and Senior Scientist Dr. Mubassira Khan. Together, they developed a hypothesis to assess the potential impact of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on urban roadways. Utilizing open-source mapping data, the students crafted a predictive model to aid local DOTs on AV-related congestion, miles driven, and the potential costs to local infrastructures. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to nurturing the next generation of professionals in automation and transportation safety. Read the full story.
VOICESTM Proof of Concept
HASS COE is a pivotal partner in the VOICES™ Proof of Concept (PoC), a cutting-edge distributed virtual platform designed for intellectual property-protected research and interoperability testing. The platform is accessible to a wide range of stakeholders, including federal, state, and local governments; transportation infrastructure and automotive industries; manufacturers; technology developers; research institutions; and academia. VOICES™ facilitates virtual collaboration among these entities, enhancing communication and cooperation. The platform initially focuses on developing prototype applications for Cooperative Driving Automation. Following its success as a Proof of Concept, VOICES™ is poised to transition to industry management by approximately 2025.
Comprehensive Role in Emerging Technology Evaluation
In collaboration with USDOT Operating Administrations and offices, HASS COE plays a crucial role in reviewing grants and technical materials. Our experts also actively examine emerging technologies and trends to ascertain which innovations are becoming most useful and how rapidly they are being adopted. To stay at the forefront of the field, our team regularly produces market scans, technology trend analyses, and maturity assessments, ensuring we maintain a deep and current understanding of the evolving technological landscape.
Publications
Quantum Technologies in Transportation Report
In July 2024, USDOT hosted a Quantum Technologies in Transportation Workshop that examined the near- and long-term opportunities for quantum sensing and computing to make our transportation system more safe, competitive, efficient, and sustainable. This report, Quantum Technologies in Transportation, summarizes the findings of this workshop and identifies potential next steps that USDOT can take to integrate quantum technology into transportation research, planning, economic development, regulation and standards, enforcement and inspections, and outreach.
Electronic Conspicuity Whitepaper
This whitepaper explores the use of advanced radiofrequency technologies to enable unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) integration. With the recent remarkable surge in production of UAS and an estimated 6.5 million units by 2030, UAS will soon vastly outnumber manned aircraft, which in the United States alone includes more than 45,000 flights daily. These escalating numbers represent a threat to both aviation safety and security and pose increased hazards to persons and property on the surface. This paper, Electronic Conspicuity: Exploring the Use of Advanced Radiofrequency Technologies to Enable Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, explores several methods through which the application of advanced communication and electronic conspicuity technologies may not only support the safe integration of UAS into the National airspace today but also create a safe and secure environment for future evolutions. Learn more here.
Understanding AI Risks in Transportation Whitepaper
The Understanding AI Risks in Transportation Whitepaper provides foundational information concerning AI risks and their associated techniques in the context of highly automated transportation systems. This second publication in the AI Assurance for Transportation Whitepaper Series summarizes AI risk identification, assessment, and mitigation processes in the safety assurance of highly automated systems across transportation domains.
Understanding Safety Challenges of Vehicles Equipped with Automated Driving Systems
HASS COE authored the Understanding Safety Challenges of Vehicles Equipped with Automated Driving Systems Whitepaper, which presents a USDOT study that sought to devise an initial causal factor typology for ADS disengagements based on California Department of Motor Vehicles disengagement reports. This study is the first part of an effort that will define the crash problem of ADS-equipped vehicles to assess current limitations in automated multimodal surface transportation systems and identify opportunities for improving their safe deployment into roadway traffic.
AI Assurance Whitepaper
AI assurance refers to the techniques, activities, and processes used to evaluate and assure expected properties of AI components or AI-enabled systems throughout the lifecycle of these components or systems. The AI Assurance Whitepaper, the first publication in the AI Assurance for Transportation Whitepaper Series, summarizes the key AI assurance concepts, challenges (technical and government), technologies, current and past efforts in aviation, guidance and standards, safety approach, and framework.
Automated Driving System-Work Zones Technical Peer Exchange
HASS COE facilitated an information exchange session on February 20, 2024, with Automated Driving System (ADS) Demo grantees and relevant state, local, and other deployers. The technical peer exchange focused on automated vehicle (AV)/ADS testing and deployment in live work zone operations, with participants offering insight, guidance, consideration, and lessons learned for operating in work zones. The ADS-Work Zones Technical Peer Exchange Whitepaper summarizes the notes from the meeting and references several source materials around this topic.
Simplified Vehicle Operations Whitepaper
Simplified Vehicle Operations (SVO) aims to make flying safer, simpler, and more accessible by automating the most error-prone, perishable, and distracting low-level pilot tasks. HASS COE authored the Simplified Vehicle Operations Whitepaper, which breaks down the core concept behind practical SVO, its significance and applications in general aviation and advanced air mobility, and evaluation and certification considerations. The whitepaper is the first in a series of HASS COE publications presenting SVO practice, opportunities, and implications for the future of flight.
Contact Us
Denise Bakar
Communications Manager
denise.bakar@dot.gov
General Inquiries
hass-coe@dot.gov
