Highway Automation Concept of Operations

The focus of this effort is the development of the first iteration of a national Roadway Automation Concept of Operations (ConOps). This effort will be the first major national opportunity to go beyond the theoretical and outline the practical system characteristics for specific operational design domains (ODDs). It will outline how ADS-equipped vehicles will integrate into the roadway environment and interface with physical and digital infrastructure, traffic control systems, roadway operations, and other modes of transportation. The first stage ConOps will identify the priority use-cases and the diverse areas that a roadway infrastructure owner-operator (IOO) can make targeted improvements to roadway infrastructure, the stratification of the various layers of the transportation system may assist stakeholders in evaluating the range of improvements, their costs, their benefits, and their direct benefits to various levels of automated vehicles.