Autonomous Maintenance Technology Literature Review

Arrington, Deshaun; Tang, Qing; Hu, Xianbiao; Nylen, Ashley; Weldon, Tyler; Drum, Theresa · 2021 · ROSA P / Colorado. Department of Transportation

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Summary

This report, commissioned by the Colorado Department of Transportation and conducted by researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, addresses the critical safety risks associated with mobile and slow-moving roadway maintenance operations. The primary motivation is the high incidence of work zone crashes, which resulted in 809 fatalities and 37,000 injuries nationally in 2017. The paper focuses on Autonomous Maintenance Technology (AMT), specifically the Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) system, as a solution to eliminate DOT worker injuries by removing human drivers from slow-moving follower vehicles. The ATMA system utilizes a leader-follower configuration where a manned leader truck performs maintenance while an autonomous follower truck, equipped with a truck-mounted attenuator, maintains a safe distance to protect workers from rear-end collisions. The study employs a comprehensive literature review methodology to summarize the state-of-the-art and state-of-the-practice of AMT development. It analyzes academic research on mobile operation safety technologies, such as speed trailers, visual enhancement systems, and radar signs, alongside existing studies on ATMA performance. The report also examines federal regulations and national standards, including NHTSA’s *Automated Driving Systems: A Vision for Safety 2.0*, *Automated Vehicles 3.0*, *Automated Vehicles 4.0*, and the *Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices* (MUTCD). Additionally, it reviews progress from the AMT Pool Fund, a collaborative initiative involving 14 state DOTs, to assess deployment statuses and sponsored research projects. Key findings indicate that ATMA systems are technically viable and align with federal voluntary safety guidelines. Academic research by Tang et al. (2020) demonstrated that ATMA systems can function reliably for extended periods without operator intervention. Further modeling by Hu and Tang (2020) established specific operational parameters, recommending a minimum car-following distance of 75 feet for the leader truck and 30 feet for the follower, along with increased time headways for lane changes and intersection clearance compared to standard passenger vehicles. The review confirms that ATMA systems incorporate necessary safety redundancies, cybersecurity measures, and human-machine interfaces consistent with NHTSA’s priority design elements. Deployment is currently active in states like Colorado, California, and Missouri, with many others in planning phases. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a structured framework for the safe integration of autonomous technology into transportation maintenance. By aligning ATMA development with federal safety visions and MUTCD standards, the report supports the reduction of work zone fatalities and the modernization of infrastructure maintenance practices. It highlights the importance of standardized testing, operator training, and regulatory compliance to facilitate widespread adoption. The findings underscore that while ATMA is an emerging technology, it offers a promising pathway to enhance worker safety and operational efficiency, supported by ongoing federal and state-level collaboration and research.

Key finding

The report concludes that Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuator technology effectively reduces worker fatalities in work zones by removing human operators from slow-moving maintenance vehicles, with current deployments and research demonstrating alignment with federal safety guidelines and successful field testing.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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