Organizers
Justin Owens, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Michael Clamann, UNC Highway Safety Research Center
Session Description
This session will build upon past years’ breakout sessions to advance discussion on the interactions between HAVs and VRUs. New for this year we will focus on specific user groups that are generally under-represented in the discussion of vehicle automation, including bicyclists, children (including issues related to both child passengers and pedestrians), people with disabilities, and seniors.
The session will be structured to enable attendees to learn from experts in a wide range of related domains, to engage in meaningful discussion with these experts and each other, and to work together in small groups to develop research needs and goals.
Goals/Objectives/Outputs
- Learn about the latest advances in technology and research designed to facilitate AV/VRU interaction
- Hear new and varied perspectives about the importance of under-represented groups, planning and design in ensuring safe and fair mobility in future transportation systems
- Gain a better understanding of current VRU transportation needs and how these may be moderated by advancing technology
- Engage with researchers, experts, and safety advocates to exchange ideas and identify research needs
- Work collaboratively to develop a list of interdisciplinary research needs statements that support vulnerable road users
Agenda
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM Welcome & Introduction
- Justin Owens, Research Scientist, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
1:45 PM – 3:15 PM Brief Presentations & Panel Discussion
During this portion of the session, experts in a range of domains related to VRU safety will first provide a few opening remarks detailing their recent research in the field and/or perspectives on the issues surrounding VRUs and AVs. After these remarks we will have a moderated panel discussion that will allow experts to discuss hot topics amongst themselves and with the audience.
- David Aylor, Manager of Active Safety Testing, IIHS: The Current State of Pedestrian Technology and Testing
- Stacy Balk, Leidos, Considering the Role of Connectivity in Future Ped/Bike Safety
- Michael Clamann, Senior Human Factors Engineer, UNC Highway Safety Research Center: Automated vehicles and schools: An analysis of deployment issues
- Jana Lynott, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor, AARP: Universal Mobility as a Service: the equitable way to roll out AV technology
- Maya Pindeus, CEO, Humanising Autonomy: Human behaviour prediction for accident and near miss prevention.
- Amy Rosepiler, Urban & Complete Streets Project Manager & Director, Roadway Design, Burgess & Niple, Inc.: I know what I know: Applying design to put pedestrians first
- Lauren Silverstein & Francine Gemperle, Uber ATG: Contextualizing VRUs Outside of the Crosswalk
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM Break
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Small Group Break-Outs
During the second half of the session, attendees will break into small groups, each chaired by an expert panelist, to brainstorm research needs and ways we can move research and outreach forward on the most important issues surrounding AVs and VRUs. Each group will develop one or more research needs statements that will be presented back to the group as a whole and support a whole-group discussion during the conclusion of the session.
4:30 – 5:15 Small Group Report-Outs & Discussion
After groups have had about an hour to formulate research needs and directives, they will report these to the group as a whole, followed by group discussion about these research directions.
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Wrap Up & Conclusion
We will conclude by recapping the main findings and conclusions of the day, plan next steps including submission of research needs and development of a chapter in the coming year’s Road Vehicle Automation book.