IntelliDriveSM
IntelliDriveSM is a multimodal initiative that aims to enable safe, interoperable networked wireless communications among vehicles, the infrastructure, and passengers’ personal communications devices. IntelliDriveSM research leverages the potentially transformative capabilities of wireless technology to make surface transportation safer, smarter and greener. USDOT research supports the development and testing of IntelliDriveSM technologies and applications, to determine their potential benefits and costs. If successfully deployed, IntelliDriveSM will ultimately enhance the safety, mobility and quality of life of all Americans, while helping to reduce the environmental impact of surface transportation.
The Transportation Problem
IntelliDriveSM aims to tackle some of the biggest challenges in the surface transportation industry in the areas of safety, mobility and environment.
- Safety: In 2008, there were 5.8 million crashes, resulting in 37,000 fatalities and 2.3 million injuries. Our children and young people are particularly vulnerable. Crashes are the leading cause of death for ages 3 through 34. IntelliDriveSM is intended to provide the tools to make transformational improvements in safety – to significantly reduce the number of lives lost each year through crash prevention applications.
- Mobility: U.S. highway users waste 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic – nearly one full work week for every traveler. The overall cost (based on wasted fuel and lost productivity) reached $87.2 billion in 2007 – more than $750 for every U.S. traveler. IntelliDriveSM mobility applications are intended enable system users and system operators to make choices that reduce travel delay.
- Environment: The total amount of wasted fuel topped 2.8 billion gallons in 2007 according to the Texas Transportation Institute – three weeks' worth of gas for every traveler. IntelliDriveSM environmental applications will potentially enable system users and system operators to make choices that reduce the environmental impacts of surface transportation travel.
The ITS Opportunity
IntelliDriveSM applications provide connectivity:
- Among vehicles to enable crash prevention;
- Between vehicles and the infrastructure to enable safety, mobility and environmental benefits; and
- Among vehicles, infrastructure, and passengers’ wireless devices to provide continuous real-time connectivity to all system users.
Like the Internet, which provides information connectivity, IntelliDriveSM provides a starting point for transportation connectivity. IntelliDriveSM has the potential to enable countless applications and spawn new industries. Today we can see only the tip of the iceberg.
IntelliDriveSM is envisioned to ultimately encompass safety applications, mobility applications, and environmental applications.
IntelliDriveSM safety applications would enable vehicles to have 360-degree awareness to inform a vehicle operator of hazards and situations they can’t see. IntelliDriveSM safety applications have the potential to reduce crashes through advisories and warnings. For instance, vehicle operators may be advised of a school zone, sharp ramp curve, or slippery patch of roadway ahead and may be warned in more imminent crash situations, such as during merging operations or if the vehicle ahead stops suddenly. Vehicles can also be warned of IntelliDriveSM equipped bicycles and pedestrians around them, enhancing the safety of these travel modes.
IntelliDriveSM mobility applications are intended to provide a connected, data-rich travel environment based on information transmitted anonymously from thousands of vehicles that are using the transportation system at a particular time. This information could help transportation managers monitor and manage transportation system performance – for example, by adjusting traffic signals, transit operations, or dispatching maintenance crews or emergency services. This information could also help transportation agencies and fleet operators to manage crews and use resources as efficiently as possible.
Providing travelers with real-time information about traffic congestion and other travel conditions helps them make more informed decisions that can reduce the environmental impact of their trip. Informed travelers may decide to avoid congestion by taking alternate routes or public transit, or by rescheduling their trip — all of which can make their trip more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly. The ability for vehicles to “talk to” the infrastructure could provide information to the vehicle operator so that he/she can drive through a traffic signal network at optimum speeds to reduce stopping. IntelliDriveSM research is designed provide traffic managers with better real time information and tools to help them manage transportation systems in the most environmentally sensitive manner, but this information could also be used for applications such as those described.
Many different groups would potentially benefit from IntelliDriveSM. More information is available on the IntelliDriveSM website under Benefits.
Learn more about IntelliDriveSM from these IntelliDriveSM Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Learn more about IntelliDriveSM's use of Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) from these DSRC Frequently Asked Questions.
The IntelliDriveSM program includes research on technical issues, policy and non-technical issues, and safety, mobility and environmental application areas. Transit and freight/commercial vehicle components are included in each research area. Testing, certification, and stakeholder engagement/outreach are also significant program components. USDOT maintains an IntelliDriveSM test bed in Michigan in partnership with Michigan DOT and Oakland County, Michigan, to enable ongoing IntelliDriveSM related testing by any public or private entity. In addition, the Safe Trip-21 program supports advancement of near term applications.
USDOT’s IntelliDriveSM research is based on a set of principles developed among stakeholders.
IntelliDriveSM covers a broad spectrum, ranging from applications that already are on the market to much more complex active safety systems that truly have the potential to transform the surface transportation environment, but will not enter the marketplace for years to come. To describe the universe of potential IntelliDriveSM applications, and their relationships, USDOT has developed the IntelliDriveSM Taxonomy.
Research Findings and Test Results
IntelliDriveSM technical, institutional and policy reports containing the latest research findings and test results are available on the IntelliDriveSM website.
Documents
Project Documents
IntelliDriveSM Initiative documents can be found on the www.IntelliDrive.org website:
Announcements and Media Coverage
Links
Internal
External
Contacts
To learn more about the IntelliDriveSM Initiative, contact:
Valerie Briggs
Team Lead, Knowledge Transfer and Policy
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-5015
valerie.briggs@dot.gov
Brian Cronin
Team Lead, Research and Demonstration
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-8841
brian.cronin@dot.gov
Walton Fehr
Program Manager, Systems Engineering
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-0278
walton.fehr@dot.gov
Yehuda Gross
Program Manager, Transit and E-Payment
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-1988
yehuda.gross@dot.gov
Katherine K. Hartman
Program Manager, Truck and Program Assessment
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-2742
kate.hartman@dot.gov
Benjamin McKeever
Program Manager, Mobility and Weather
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-4876
ben.mckeever@dot.gov
Marcia Pincus
Program Manager, Environment (AERIS) and ITS Evaluation
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-9230
marcia.pincus@dot.gov
Mike Schagrin
Program Manager, IntelliDriveSM Safety
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-2180
mike.schagrin@dot.gov
Steve Sill
Program Manager, Vehicle Safety Technology and ITS Architecture & Standards
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
(202) 366-1603
steve.sill@dot.gov
|
