author: Michael Cheng

Automakers are currently rushing to acquire experience (in the form of time and autonomous miles driven) on public roads for their driverless cars. Like Waymo, developers could use the results to ease the concerns of regulators and buyers, while honing their autonomous platform for commercial markets. To help diversify the conditions that self-driving vehicles are exposed to, federal officials are allowing states to propose various "testing grounds" for pilot programs.

So far this year, most car manufacturers have selected very predictable locations, such as San Francisco, Austin and Las Vegas, to deploy their driverless vessels. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) aims to break this trend by proposing a new region for testing - I-95 between the University of Maryland to the south and Aberdeen Proving Ground to the north.

New Opportunities

The proposed location will be included in the list of testing areas, which will be announced in early 2017. Should federal officials move forward with setting up programs on the busy interstate that supports major junctions at Daytona Beach, Florida (I-4); New York City, New York (I-87); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (I-76); and Richmond, Virginia (I-64); Maryland could be a hotspot for driverless car manufacturers.

A closer look at the proposed I-95 corridor route suggests that mature autonomous systems may be needed to safely navigate around the location. Self-driving vehicles would be required to pass through iconic establishments, such as the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore and BWI Airport – heavily congested areas that are filled with travelers, commuters and major obstructions.

"Self-driving vehicles have the potential to transform how we live and work, and while we are open for business and eager to realize the life-saving and economic benefits of this innovative technology, we will always ensure safety comes first," said Christine E. Nizer, MDOT's motor vehicle administrator.

Automating Industrial Processes

A very unique aspect of testing in Maryland includes industrial applications for driverless vessels. In the state's proposal, officials specifically want to apply the technology to streamline freight transportation to and from the port. Furthermore, local groups intend to use autonomous pods to shuttle travelers to and from BWI airport. If selected, Maryland-based researchers could also use this opportunity to understand how driverless vehicles perform around tolling systems on I-95 and the ICC.

"We are in the process of developing clear policies and procedures for companies eager to test AV technologies on public roads in Maryland," explained Nizer.

In other locations around the US, state transportation organizations are already participating in pilot programs. Earlier this year, the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced that it will be testing a fleet of classified vehicles on I-69 in Michigan's St. Clair and Lapeer counties. During testing, military developers focused on driverless radio communication protocols, such as V2V and V2I. To facilitate the convoy, the Army installed six radio units along the highway (five temporary locations and one permanent). Based on the setup, the group could also be gathering data for tank or truck platooning.