First international workshop on vehicle-highway automation : August 11-12, 1997 : San Diego, California, USA

NHTSA · 1997 · ROSA P / Mitretek Systems

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Summary

This document summarizes the proceedings of the First International Workshop on Vehicle-Highway Automation, held in San Diego in August 1997. The workshop was convened to build momentum following the "Demo ’97" event, which demonstrated the feasibility of automated driving. The primary objective was to foster international collaboration among government agencies, industry stakeholders, and researchers from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The discussions focused on defining the scope of vehicle-highway automation (VHA), addressing the "chicken-and-egg" dilemma regarding infrastructure versus vehicle-based systems, and establishing a roadmap for incremental deployment rather than pursuing immediate full automation. The content consists of regional presentations, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions rather than a single experimental study. Participants outlined current research and development (R&D) budgets and priorities, such as the European Union’s 12.3 billion ECU budget and Japan’s three-phase Automated Highway System (AHS) program. Key technical topics included longitudinal collision avoidance, lane-keeping, driver monitoring, and the integration of vehicle control with infrastructure. The dialogue heavily emphasized the need for standardized terminology, with participants debating terms like "Automated Highway System" versus "Vehicle-Highway Automation." Legal and liability issues were identified as critical barriers, with attorneys noting the lack of a central liability code in the US and the need for clear definitions of responsibility between drivers and systems. The workshop concluded that VHA is "ready to blossom" and should proceed through evolutionary, incremental steps. Participants agreed that human error causes approximately 90% of crashes, providing a strong safety motivation for automation. However, they recognized that fully automated driving (AHS-a) remains beyond the immediate horizon for product planners. Instead, the consensus favored near-term deployment of driver assistance systems (AHS-i and AHS-c), such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warnings, particularly for trucks and specialized vehicles. The discussions highlighted that infrastructure support is not strictly essential for initial vehicle-based systems but could enhance efficiency. Significant attention was paid to the "chicken-and-egg" problem of infrastructure investment, with some arguing for vehicle-first approaches to avoid dependency on costly road instrumentation. The significance of the workshop lies in its establishment of an informal international collaboration framework and its shift in focus from technical feasibility to benefits, deployment strategies, and user services. The participants agreed on the necessity of common terminology to facilitate communication and market acceptance. The workshop set the stage for future annual meetings and task forces, with the next iteration planned to focus on early benefits and short-term deployments. It underscored that while technology exists, commercial success depends on cost-effectiveness, consumer willingness to pay, and the resolution of legal and liability uncertainties. The event marked a pivotal moment in aligning global ITS efforts toward a spectrum of automation capabilities rather than a singular goal of full autonomy.

Key finding

The document is a workshop transcript and does not contain empirical research results or quantitative findings.

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• situational awareness
• driverless ads
• ehmi external hmi
• acceptance adoption
• automation

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• Synthesis & Review: research agenda
• Theoretical Contribution: conceptual framework