A few recent examples of our work with connected and automated vehicles (CAVs):

  • How do human interact with automated vehicle technologies, such as during transitions of control and measuring trust in the technology? 
  • How do automated vehicles perform on rural roadways? 
  • How can connected vehicles communicate with each other to improve safety in rural settings?

Project spotlight: ADS for Rural America

ADS for Rural America is funded by the U.S. DOT and aims to improve safety on our roadways, represent rural roads in AV research, and broaden mobility for those in rural areas. 

NADS research vehicles on rural road

ADS for Rural America

Visit our project website to learn more about this demonstration project that used an automated shuttle bus on Iowa roads. 

News: Connected and automated vehicles

KWWL screenshot

Automated vehicles could become a viable transportation alternative

Wednesday, June 14, 2023
KWWL reports: In Coralville on Tuesday, the Driving Safety Research Institute showed off the results of 2.5 years of research into automated vehicles on rural roads. ...
River to River, Iowa Public Radio

Listen: A ride in University of Iowa's automated vehicle

Thursday, April 20, 2023
On this special on-the-road edition of IPR's 'River to River,' director Dan McGehee, safety lead Cheryl Roe, and instrumentation lead Greg Wagner take IPR host Ben Keiffer for a ride in their automated vehicle.
Iowa City postcard with John McGivern

John McGivern's Main Streets - Iowa City, Iowa

Friday, April 14, 2023
We were recently featured in the Iowa City episode of John McGivern's Main Streets showcasing many of Iowa City's hidden gems. Check out this episode to see why Iowa City is a town for everyone!
Webinar 4 screenshot

ADS for Rural America Webinar 4: Data Portal recording now available

Thursday, April 13, 2023
The recording is now available from our fourth ADS for Rural America webinar, this one focusing on our data portal and accessing our data.
ADS for Rural America Ford transit on rural road

ADS for Rural America: Lessons learned so far

Monday, February 20, 2023
As of fall 2022, we're more than halfway done with our 2.5-year ADS for Rural America Project. The development of any new technology requires lessons learned along the way. This article explores the lessons we have learned in the first half of this U.S. DOT-funded demonstration project.
Webinar 3 screenshot

Recording available for webinar 3: Rider and safety driver experience

Friday, February 3, 2023
A recording is now available of our third webinar on our ADS for Rural America project, which included video interviews of past riders, results of rider surveys (including their anxiety levels and perceptions of the technology), as well as safety driver experience and perceptions.
Camry cab inside the NADS-1 simulator

Taking control in Level 3 Automation

Thursday, January 26, 2023
This article summarizes findings from two recent studies that our researchers have worked on with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) examining the various aspects of transition of control (TOC) between human drivers and periods of automated driving.
2022 NADS Annual Report cover

2022 Annual Report now available

Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Our 2022 annual report is here! We have spent the past year researching automated vehicles, traffic safety, drugged driving, and much more. Plus, read about our upcoming name change to "Driving Safety Research Institute" on page 3.
Inside NADS-1 simulator

NADS lands contract with NHTSA for automated vehicle research

Thursday, October 20, 2022
The University of Iowa National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) has secured a contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a project that will look at roadway interactions between human-driven and automated vehicles.
Webinar 2 screenshot

Recording of Webinar 2: Vehicle Hardware and Software now available

Thursday, September 29, 2022
The recording is now available for webinar about our vehicle, including details on the installed hardware and integrated software system, along with some lessons learned and advice for others embarking on similar projects.

Connected vehicle example

Blind corners and cresting hills can be dangerous spots on rural Iowa roads. In a project with the Iowa DOT, we tested an alert system that alerts drivers to hazards on the road before the driver may see them.

Contact

Ahmad,Omar

Omar Ahmad

Title/Position
Deputy Director