US DOT Tours the PATH Research Campus

On February 2, the US Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) Administrator Peter Appel was treated to a PATH Research Campus demonstration, giving him a snapshot of current and recent research projects, all with the long-standing PATH and Caltrans thematic interest, showing advanced technology on the ground with real vehicles, real roads and real people that make travel safe, efficient and comfortable.

PATH has the ability to conceive, develop, prototype then begin to implement these innovations in transportation. And this ability was highlighted with demonstrations to Administrator Appel at what we call the PATH Research Campus. We research - and we showed - a potential future of transportation, with our enabling research as a foundation.

Some of the technologies demonstrated included precision location, vehicle control and guidance, smart intersections, multiple modes (cars, buses and trucks), and wireless communication with focus on Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC.) These all build toward a future in transportation and are tied together in the following PATH-developed transportation application.




Buses that Dock by Themselves.

We showed Administrator Appel an Automated Bus Docking demonstration, which has a companion project, Lane Assist. These portend the day when driver assist will hit city streets, thanks to the US DOT- and Caltrans-sponsored Vehicle Assist and Automation Project.



Intersections that Talk and Listen to Cars.

We provided Administrator Appel with a set of US DOT- and Caltrans-sponsored, DSRC-enabled Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance System (CICAS), which is the latest in our legacy of intersection safety research.

Vehicles that Talk to and Listen to One Another.

We also illustrated two aspects of our FHWA- and Caltrans-sponsored "Vehicle-Infrastructure Integration for Mobility", Exploratory Advanced Research Program projects, an Automated Truck Demonstration and a ride with our Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control vehicles which have as key DSRC communication between cars.

Traffic and Communications Laboratories.

We followed up with a SafeTrip-21 Networked Traveler mobility and information ride and presentation, tours of our Parsons Traffic and Transit Laboratory and our Vehicle-Infrastructure Transportation Affiliates Laboratory (VITAL) facility.

We capped the day with a discussion of how our vision may effect transformational changes in the way that mobility and safety services are delivered to the public. And we of course thank Administrator Appel for his visit and the opportunity for us to showcase our partnerships with Caltrans and US DOT in making our vision mutual.

California PATH

1357 S.46th Street, Bldg. 452
Richmond, CA 94804-4648
Tel: 510-665-3552
Fax: 510-665-3537
Email: info@path.berkeley.edu