ATSSA The Signal Nov/Dec 2019

The Signal | November/December 2019 21 Innovation & Technical News The more connected we all are, the more tangible a fully autonomous vehicle will become. “What we found is there are people across the university in areas of robotics, electri- cal and computer engineering, computer science, data analytics, planning and design, publicpolicy, informationsystems, and all these other disciplines that are now driving the world of transporta- tion, particularly with CAVs,” Caldwell said. “They’re not based only on tradi- tional civil or traffic engineering, they’re based on information and communica- tions technology because that’s the new technology that’s driving transportation.” Additionally, CMU’s centers are working withpublic, private, andnonprofits. They are even part of national networks such as MetroLab Network, which is a collab- orative of dozens of cities, counties, and universities focused on civic innovation. According toMetroLab Director of Exter- nal Programs&Communications Stefania Di Mauro-Nava, partnerships between local governments and universities are critical to effectuate the rapid change that data and technology are poised to bring to communities. MetroLab aims to drive these partnerships between local governments and universities and activate this network of stakeholders through convening, collaboration, and programming. “One of the topics that a number of our membersareworkingonareCAVs,amongst others. University researchers are explor- ing CAVs froma number of angles, from the technologies that will make them possible to the social and policy impli- cations of having CAVs on the roads,” Mauro-Nava said. “Our local government benefits fromworking closely with their university partners to gain insights into the research, explore present and future applications of CAVs, research potential policychanges tohelpwithCAV integration, and proactively think about the social andbehavioral adaptations ramifications communities will face.” Caldwell said that being a part of Metro- Lab has had a positive impact on CMU’s initiatives, as researchers knowtheyhave partnering schools andcanwork together to progress automation. “We’vecomealongwaysincewefirststarted working with automotive technologies,” Caldwell said. “It really does come down to information sharing and communica- tion—not just within our university but with outside partnerships and collabo- rations. The more connected we all are, the more tangible a fully autonomous vehicle will become.”