[AutonomousVehicles] Transportation Challenge Aims to Create Universally Accessible Automated Vehicles

[Bill Meeker and Cheryl Orgas]

Colleagues,

 

FYI.  Though I'm no engineer, might this be an opportunity for us to design,
or facilitate the design to attain the objectives stated in the below
article specifically pertaining to blind drivers, passengers, and even
pedestrians?  The January 31 Request For Information submission deadline is
short, but can we not do it?  And there are $$ prizes.

 

Bill Meeker

 

 

Transportation Challenge Aims to Create Universally Accessible Automated
Vehicles

By
<https://www.nextgov.com/voices/brandi-vincent/14441/?oref=ng-post-author?or
ef=rf-post-author> Brandi Vincent 

January 6, 2020 03:04 PM ET

 

The agency plans to award up to $5 million in prizes.

 

.
<https://www.nextgov.com/topic/autonomous-vehicles/?oref=ng-article-topics>
Autonomous Vehicles 

.
<https://www.nextgov.com/topic/transportation-department/?oref=ng-article-to
pics> Transportation 

 

 

In contemporary production, most passenger vehicles are generally not
equipped with universal accessibility features that make it easy for people
in wheelchairs or with other disabilities to use them. But the
Transportation Department aims to incentivize more inclusive solutions in
the impending wave of next-generation travel and the highly-anticipated
introduction of automated vehicles that require little or no human
interaction.

According to a request for information
<https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-00009.p
df?utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pi+subscript
ion+mailing+list>  set to be published in the federal register Tuesday, the
agency wants feedback on its plans to host an Inclusive Design Challenge to
spur innovation that'll enable riders with a range of disabilities to access
automated vehicles upon production, instead of attempting to retrofit
solutions in the aftermath.     

"The Challenge will solicit solutions addressing obstacles faced by persons
with physical, sensory, and/or cognitive disabilities," officials said in
the RFI. "The goal of the Challenge is to inspire inclusive designs as AVs
are developed, which may also increase access to conventional vehicles
today."

 

A recent brief
<https://www.bts.gov/topics/passenger-travel/travel-patterns-american-adults
-disabilities>  from the Transportation Statistics Bureau highlighting the
travel patterns of adults with disabilities suggests that more than 25
million Americans ages 5 and older have self-reported travel-limiting
disabilities. Of those, more than 3 million Americans reported barely
leaving their homes due to their disabilities. Through the new multi-phase
prize competition, the agency is making up to $5 million available to
innovators around the nation who seek to create new, feasible technological
solutions that tackle widespread issues around vehicle-access.
Transportation emphasizes that it is not yet accepting applications for the
competition, but instead launched the RFI for feedback on its strategy and
plans for the Challenge. The agency originally unveiled plans for the
competition in October at an Access and Mobility for All Summit
<https://www.transportation.gov/accessibility>  but offers more details
about the effort in the new solicitation.

Automated vehicles are expected to help usher in an era where people with
disabilities can move around more independently. The agency is looking for
solutions that will support diverse disabilities and needs through novel
vehicle designs, as well as independent components that will bolster
inclusive design features. Inclusiveness will be reviewed based on the
solutions' ability to address one or more vehicle-use tasks that people with
disabilities need to complete on their own, including: locating, entering
and exiting the vehicles; securing passengers and their mobility equipment,
inputting information around passenger identities; inputting destinations
and requesting needed assistance; and engaging with the automated vehicles
in both routine and emergency situations. Transportation also expects
project teams to identify representatives from both industry and the
disability advocacy community to help inform and advise on their ideas and
approaches throughout the process.

 

"[The agency] expects teams to describe how they have engaged with
stakeholders to understand the needs and constraints of both industry and
travelers with disabilities when explaining the feasibility and impact of
their design," officials wrote. 

The Challenge will be structured in two stages. In the first, eligible
designers will submit their proposals of the inclusive disability-friendly
design solutions they aim to produce. Up to 15 semi-finalists will receive
$100,000 each to develop their promising concepts. From there and in the
second stage, they'll be expected to create functional prototypes and
demonstrate their solutions' viability. Up to four of those designers will
be chosen as finalists and receive a portion of the remaining funds, which
include a potential grand prize of $2 million. 

 

In the RFI, Transportation asks interested participants to weigh in on the
topic, its approach and plans for the design challenge, as well as its
evaluation criteria. Comments will be accepted through the federal
regulations website and via email until 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 31.  

 

 

 

 

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