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

Wed Jan 8 15:50:17 UTC 2020

Yes we can absolutely do it. I'm very excited to get involved. Just let me
know where I can starve.

Angela Daniel
Georgia affiliate board member

On Tue, Jan 7, 2020, 1:12 PM Bill Meeker and Cheryl Orgas via
AutonomousVehicles <autonomousvehicles at nfbnet.org wrote:

> 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 **Brandi Vincent
> <https://www.nextgov.com/voices/brandi-vincent/14441/?oref=ng-post-author?oref=rf-post-author>*
>
> *January 6, 2020 03:04 PM ET*
>
>
>
> The agency plans to award up to $5 million in prizes.
>
>
>
> ·         *Autonomous Vehicles
> <https://www.nextgov.com/topic/autonomous-vehicles/?oref=ng-article-topics>*
>
> ·         *Transportation
> <https://www.nextgov.com/topic/transportation-department/?oref=ng-article-topics>*
>
>
>
>
>
> 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.pdf?utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pi+subscription+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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