Revolutionizing our roadways : the challenges and benefits of making automated vehicles a reality.

Automated vehicles (AVs)—a combination of technologies and sensors that enable vehicles to operate with limited or no driver input—are rapidly moving from science fiction to real-world application. Low-level, limited function AV technologies are already available on new vehicles today, and high-level AVs may be just around the corner. On-road vehicle testing is currently underway and legal in several states, and some industry experts expect high-level AVs to be available as soon as 2020. While the technological advancement is impressive, many unknowns surround the widespread deployment of AVs. How can AVs be safely tested on public roads? Will consumers readily accept automation? How can the security of transmitted data between vehicles and the roadside be ensured when major corporations struggle to ensure users’ data privacy and security? Will consumers or vehicle manufacturers bear the liability of an AV crash? What are the implications for the roadway infrastructure? What are the societal benefits and costs of implementation (e.g., upgrading infrastructure vs. cost savings accrued from improved safety)? These are a few of the big-picture questions that Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers investigated in this study.