Our Central Florida AV Partners


Recent News and events

20Jul, 2019

Florida: The next hotbed of AV tech?

ORLANDO — Fifty years after Florida rallied for a moonshot, the state's government and industry leaders have coalesced around another breakthrough technology that will be deployed closer to home. Executives [...]


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

Level 0: No automation
Level 0: No automation
The driver is in complete and sole control at all times.
Level 1: Function-specific Automation
Level 1: Function-specific Automation
Function-specific automation, one or more specific functions can be done by the car, for example, cruise control, parking assistance, automatic braking and lane-centering.
Level 2: Combined Function Automation
Level 2: Combined Function Automation
At least two primary functions work in conjunction and the driver can be temporarily relived from driving. For instance, Tesla autopilot system.

2013+

Level 3: Limited Self-Driving Automation
Level 3: Limited Self-Driving Automation
All safety-critical functions are done by the vehicle, but the driver’s situational awareness is still required.

By 2020 +

Level 4: High Automation
Level 4: High Automation
High automation, all aspects of the driving task are controlled by the automated system. Vehicles are designed to monitor roadway conditions for the entire trip and driver is not required to be present.

By 2025 +

Level 5: Full Automation
Level 5: Full Automation
Fully automation, all driving tasks can be performed by the automated system, under all conditions, including extreme environments.

By 2025 +


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.