ITS America Meeting To Offer Six Sessions on Human Factors and IVI (04/02)

This year's Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) Annual Meeting (April 29 – May 2, 2002, in Long Beach, California) has plenty to offer on intelligent vehicle issues within one of its seven tracks.

The “vehicle track” of sessions begins the first day with an update from the US Department of Transportation on their Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) program, and is followed by a key session on driver focus. Session topicss during the following days include driver performance, cooperative vehicle/highway systems, and two sessions on technology for avoiding collisions.

Details on scheduled sessions are as follows. Complete program information is at ITS America's Annual Meeting web page.

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1:30 – 3:00 PM

Session #5 - Intelligent Vehicle Initiative Update from US DOT

Work continues under the U.S. DOT's Intelligent Vehicle Initiative. Hear from the directors of each vehicle platform (light vehicle, heavy vehicle, transit vehicle, and specialty vehicle) about progress in each area. Moderated by Ray Resendes, IVI Program Coordinator, US DOT Joint Program Office.

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 4:00 – 5:30 PM

Session #12 - Driver Focus: Keeping Your Eyes and Mind on the Road

Technology is being introduced into the driving environment faster than ever before. How will these devices affect the way we drive? Are the challenges visual, cognitive or something else? This session will explore those questions and identify ways technology can be used to improve the quality of life for all drivers. Moderated by Richard Hanowski, Research Scientist, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30
4:00 – 5:30 PM

Session #34 - Driver Performance: Where Are We?

As new technology is introduced into the vehicle, many human factors and safety issues are being raised. Naturalistic driving studies are underway. Driver workload, information processing, and night driving are just a few of the topics to be addressed in this session. Moderated by Jon Hankey, Advanced Product Test and Evaluation Group Leader, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1
4:00 – 5:30 PM

Session #51 - Cooperative Vehicle/Highway Systems

Ongoing research is focused on alternative means of intelligent transportation using a cooperative approach between vehicles and the highway infrastructure. Is the answer vehicle-vehicle based or vehicle-infrastructure based? Hear about recent advances and ongoing operational tests in the U.S. and Japan. Moderated by Greg Larson, Supervising Transportation Engineer, Caltrans.

THURSDAY, MAY 2
9:00 – 10:30 AM

Session #63 - Avoiding Collisions Part 1

Collision warning and avoidance systems -- forward, side, and rear -- are beginning to make their way onto the roads here in the U.S. and abroad; work on international standards is underway worldwide. The session will feature recent collision warning and avoidance research and implementation results. Moderated by Stephen Shladover, Deputy Director, California PATH.

THURSDAY, MAY 2
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Session #74 - Avoiding Collisions Part 2: ACAS

Work is underway on field operational tests (FOTs) of various collision warning and avoidance systems. One system, the Automotive Collision Avoidance System (ACAS), aims to provide improved forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. Hear from the people involved in the FOT and the progress to date. Moderated by Ron Colgin, Staff Research Engineer, General Motors Corporation.