Our Central Florida AV Partners
Recent News and events
Florida: Hub for Transportation and Mobility Innovation
Recently approved legislation and ambitious projects developed by Florida's transportation agencies, in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders and partners, are creating a wide set of options for testing autonomous [...]
Senate hearing witnesses agree autonomous vehicles will increase safety
Americans will see autonomous vehicles (AV) operating by about 2020 in confined areas, with rollout of fully autonomous vehicles on roads and highways by the end of the next decade, [...]
AAA: Drivers becoming less fearful of self-driving car technology
Americans are starting to lose some of their hesitations when it comes to cars that can drive themselves, a new AAA study released Wednesday finds. While a majority of drivers [...]
College students get front-row seat to study autonomous vehicle technology
By Dr. Randy Avent – President, Florida Polytechnic University Accurately predicting the future is notoriously difficult. Popular Mechanics wrote in 1949 that future computers would weigh just 1.5 tons. It [...]
Stay on Track
By JOHN HAUGHEY | Contributing Writer | Business Observer Why it Matters: The Central Florida Autonomous Vehicle Partnership will be the main place statewide to test and study autonomous vehicles [...]
Peloton Pledges Commercial Platooning in 2018, Rollout of Active Steering in Trucking Draws Near, Passenger Cars Could Point Path to Automated Steering in Trucks
Peloton Pledges Commercial Platooning in 2018 2018 could bring commercial applications of truck platooning after successful demonstrations of the driver-assisted technology last month in Florida and Michigan by platooning developer [...]
Behind the wheel of truck platooning tech: What it’s like and how it can save millions of dollars
By Veronica Brezina – Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal This cuts fuel costs and saves lives. Link to full article.
Group tests technology to allow semitrucks to drive closer together on Central Florida roads.
From WFTV Orlando. Click here for full article.
Why Central Florida
Florida is not new to AVs. Central Florida began exploring AV technology in 2011 with the connected vehicle-affiliated testing bed along I-4. In 2012, the Florida Automated Vehicles (FAV) program was established to lead the state in developing best safety practices and promote awareness for AVs and relevant technology. House Bill 7027 was passed in 2016, which cleared the way for all forms of AV testing.
The Central Florida AV Partnership includes regional agencies and entities that have demonstrated leadership and significant contributions towards mobility challenges. Research and simulation will be conducted at some of the area’s universities, including the University of Central Florida and Florida Polytechnic University. Safety and policy compliance review will be managed by the College of Law within Florida A&M University-Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering. Other participating facilities include the Roadway Network and Swamp Works Lab at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the UCF Transportation Lab, the City of Orlando’s downtown urban core, interstates, expressways, and SunTrax—the only dedicated high-speed AV and tolling testing center in the southeastern United States.
Five Levels of Autonomous Vehicle
Five Modes of Travel
Automobiles
Autonomous vehicles, or self-driving vehicles, equipped with sensors and on-board computers, can sense their environment and guide themselves with partial or no human conduction. This will help in the reduction of accidents caused by distractions.
Freight
Connected trucks or platooning trucks, are equipped with driving support systems which allow one truck to follow the other closely. Platooning trucks maintain a communication link and share data and action among the convoy, increasing fuel efficiency and improving safety on highways.
Transit
Autonomous or self-driving buses and shared vehicles operate on fixed routes and provide a controllable environment for vehicle automation. Driverless buses can significantly reduce crashes, provide user convenience and reduce congestions.
Bike-Ped
Autonomous vehicles have been proven to effectively detect pedestrians and bicyclists, potentially preventing crashes from taking place by taking control of the vehicle if the driver is distracted. In addition, future wearable devices can be utilized to improve the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
Space
Advanced control system will achieve a robust balance between the on-board computer of the vehicle and the pilot. Well-developed human-automation systems optimize the allocation of responsibility and enhance the performance of both human and machine.
Interested In Partnering With Us?
Contact us to get more information on how to become a Central Florida Partner