The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) will receive two U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grants totaling $15 million to advance research on the safe integration of automation into U.S. roadways, according to VTT.
The grants were awarded through the Automated Driving System Demonstration Grants program, which provides federal funding to projects that test how to safely incorporate automated driving systems on U.S. roads. Of the 73 proposals submitted, seven awards were granted. VTTI received two, the only organization to do so, according to the institute.
Two $7.5 million grants will support two VTTI-led projects:
- Automated Driving Systems and Public Safety
One project seeks to demonstrate how highly automated vehicles can adapt safely to encounters with public safety. Testing will occur on the I-95 Express Lanes, which are operated by Transurban.
- Automated Trucks and Mixed Fleets
The other project will seek to provide the trucking industry with clear guidelines on how to safely implement and benefit from trucks equipped with automated driving systems. In concert with the development of a fleet concept of operations, demonstrations will occur on public U.S. roadways.
