Premiere/Premier; Hardy/Hearty; Forward/Foreword; Isotope/ISA-TOPE; and Other Homonyms


Webster’s online dictionary defines an isotope as: “any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties” (“Isotope”).  One way the Transportation Center of Excellence (TCOE) would modify that definition for ISA-TOPE is: any of two or more types of autonomous vehicles with the same general components and similar function of autonomous automobiles but on vehicles of higher mass and unique functionality.  ISA-TOPE is actually an acronym that stands for Innovative, Semi-Autonomous Trucks and Off-highway Powered Equipment.  It is an acronym that was coined and used in the submission of an NSF grant by the TCOE that was recently awarded.  We now begin the work of the project.  The project has 5 main deliverables:

  1. A training schedule and program for at least 8 OEM ISA-TOPE Professional Development training sessions
  2. A collection of 6 different Virtual Outreach Events (videos) with a focus on connecting with diverse (rural, female, and under-represented) students.
  3. Open Educational Resources, college-level ISA-TOPE curriculum covering approximately 30 hours of instruction/labs.
  4. Provide hands-on, real world ISA-TOPE exposure to various schools around the state of Minnesota.
  5. Aid in the development of a national, industry-recognized autonomous technology certification process.

As we initiate this process, we have had, and will have, multiple dialogues with diesel instructors and OEM distributors to determine the best type of technology to acquire and integrate into this project that will bring the most value to the schools utilizing the technology.  We will utilize the annual MTTIA conference (https://www.mttia.org/about_mttia.html) as our primary location for professional development training.  The TCOE will also use the acquired ISA-TOPE technology to develop multiple outreach events (videos) that can be utilized at various outreach activities throughout the state or beyond.  The videos are reusable and can provide a consistent message to students about the level of technology in the diesel, truck, or equipment technician and truck driver programs offered at Minnesota State Colleges.  Curriculum will also be developed for diesel technician and truck driver training related to autonomous technology.  This curriculum will be utilized at schools, in conjunction with the acquired technology, to provide students with usable technology in real-world applications.  The TCOE will also collaborate with various industry leading associations (i.e. ASE or AED) and aid in the development of national, industry-recognized, industry-influenced, standards that can lead to certifications for both technicians and students.

This project addresses the technician and driver shortage through outreach, and is designed to increase the knowledge of graduating students, but this project is important because autonomous technology is important. Autonomous technology saves lives, improves safety, and increases industry efficiencies.

“In 2018, 36,560 people died in motor vehicle crashes. Research shows that the vast number of vehicle crashes are tied to human error. New driver assistance technologies hold the potential to reduce the number of crashes and save thousands of lives a year.” (Driver Assistance, 2020). The National Transportation Safety Board has identified increasing implementation of collision avoidance systems in all new highway vehicles as one of its 10 most wanted items (2019-2020 Most Wanted List). Between 45% and 50% of new heavy-duty commercial highway vehicles sold today are equipped with AEB (automated emergency braking), or other ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) with many of the vehicles being ordered by the largest carriers that have already seen the benefits of reduced at-fault rear-end accidents (Cannon and Huff, 2020).




Ritchie Huang, Daimler Trucks’ Executive Manager of Advanced Safety Systems and Autonomous Driving, said the OEM believes that AEB and ADAS could address 69% of all crashes (Cannon and Huff, 2020). During the 2020 FMCSA Safety Summit, a panel of industry executives from several large carriers discussed the value of ADAS on commercial vehicles equipped with that technology in their fleet, specifically in reducing at-fault rear-end collisions. The following table documents the data they shared:

Autonomous Technology also exists in off-highway trucks, along with construction, agriculture, mining, and material handling equipment. Some level of automated technology (i.e. auto steering to keep crop line) exists on the majority of new agriculture and construction equipment, and is considered the market standard (Klug, et al., 2019), however the reason for adopting autonomous technology appears to differ slightly in on-highway and off-highway applications. Increasing safety is often the primary reason given by trucking companies to adopt autonomous technology. By reducing the severity and number of collisions between their trucks and the general public, these companies usually realize reduced operating costs and increased efficiencies. For companies utilizing off-highway autonomous technology, reducing total operating costs and increasing efficiencies, through a reduced number of needed operators and/or reduced project completion times, were the first and second respectively ranked reasons for adopting autonomous technology in off-highway applications, with increased safety being ranked 3rd (Klug, et al., 2019). According to Cameron Clark, Business Area Manager for Trimble, a conglomeration of companies specializing in autonomous-related technologies, “with the [autonomous] technology we have today, experienced [construction and agricultural equipment] operators run 41 percent faster and 75 percent more accurate” (How Autonomous, 2020).

Vehicle autonomous technology is advancing quickly.  While automotive autonomous technology has been advancing since as early as the 1920’s, autonomous technology in trucks and other commercial vehicles, while getting a slower start, seems to be advancing at a much faster pace.  Tesla’s AutoPilot program, introduced around 2014, is arguably the most advanced production automotive driving system on the market, and is rivaled by other automotive manufacturers, but it’s functionality ranges from level 5 (Smart Summon) to, apparently, level 2 based on recent e-mails between Elon Musk and the state of California (Morris, 2021).  New Flyer Bus, according to their website (https://www.newflyer.com/bus/xcelsior-av/), started the autonomous journey in 2019, but they have recently announced the release of an SAE level 4 autonomous electric transit bus.

What does the future hold?  Nobody can be exactly sure.  One thing is almost certain.  It will involve change.  Our drivers and technicians of tomorrow need to be ready.  The NSF ISA-TOPE project helps take steps to make that a reality. 


Carl Borleis is the Director of Program Excellence at the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence

Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation’s “ISA-TOPE” Project
1300 145th St. East, Rosemount, MN 5506
651-423-8577 | Visit us at minntran.org

 

References:

2019-2020 Most Wanted List: Increase Implementation of Collision Avoidance Systems in All New Highway Vehicles. National Transportation Safety Board, January 2019, https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl6-fsh.aspx. Accessed 10 May, 2021.

 

Cannon, Jason, and Aaron Huff. "Early Adopters of Crash Mitigation Tech See Accidents Decline”. Commercial Carrier Journal, August 6, 2020, https://www.ccjdigital.com/early-adopters-crash-mitigation-tech-accidents-decline/?MvBriefArticleId=35751.  Accessed 10 May, 2021.

 

Driver Assistance Technologies.  United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/safety-technologies#99021.  Accessed 10 May, 2021.

 

"How Autonomous Construction Equipment Will Revolutionize the Industry." CONEXPO-CON/AGG, March 13, 2020, https://www.conexpoconagg.com/News/How-Autonomous-Construction-Equipment-Will-Revolut.  Accessed 10 May, 2021.

 

“Isotope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/isotope. Accessed 10 May, 2021.

 

Krug, Alexander, et al. Autonomous machines in the fast lane?, Arthur D Little, April, 2019, http://www.adlittle.cn/en/insights/viewpoints/autonomous-machines-fast-lane. Accessed 10 May, 2021.

 


Morris, James. “Why Is Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Only Level 2 Autonomous?” Forbes, Mar 13, 2021,07:40am EST, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesmorris/2021/03/13/why-is-teslas-full-self-driving-only-level-2-autonomous/?sh=16b1970e6a32. Accessed 10 may, 2021.

 

"Top 100: For-Hire Carriers." Transport Topics, Week of June 22, 2020, pp. A6-A18.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Build Your Own Driver Candidate Pipeline

Image
  The consistent success of a driver candidate pipeline depends on acquiring the top talent, and doing this requires an astute recruitment strategy. This means a candidate strategy that contains specific tracking measures and key performance indicators to uncover the best truck drivers, not only to hire them but to retain them as well. It's well known that there is a national labor shortage of truckers and mechanics, and companies are competing against each other to not only uncover the best drivers but cater to their needs as well. Acquiring the top talent for long-term success requires you to look at different numbers and factors, which you will learn all about right here! If competitors are successfully pinching your talent, it's a sign that something needs fixing. So, think long-term! A new generation of truck drivers is right down the street from you at the local Highschool.  Next Gen Trucking is an organization that can help your local schools start a CDL or Tech educa...
Read more

Technical Colleges are a Great Partner in Recruiting Drivers. Learn How Hopkinsville Community College in Kentucky is Training the Next Generation of Truck Drivers.

Image
      Truck drivers are an essential part of what keeps America moving. Nearly every product that is sold and bought has been transported at some point via a commercial truck.  Despite the big demand for experienced truckers, there is a nation-wide shortage of people willing to take charge behind the wheel. To fill that gap, Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) offers truck driver training, as a certificate program.   The intent is to train students with little to no commercial driving experience and prepare them for a high-demand job.   The 4-week, entry-level course prepares students for the trucking industry. It teaches students to drive tractor trailer trucks, apply their knowledge of commercial driving regulations, prepare receipts for loads, maintain truck logs in accordance with state and federal guidelines, inspect the truck and equipment as well as load and unload. Most importantly, the program teaches students how to be safe and reliable drivers...
Read more

A Well-Oiled Machine

Image
  Say the word "technician" and immediately some people conjure up an unfavorable image of someone with a dirty uniform working in a decrepit building with junk cars and rusted parts everywhere. The stereotype is strong, and the industry is aware. While we know it’s not reality, the image is not one that leads parents to prefer it as a solid career choice for their children. It’s also not an image that young students see as leading them on a lucrative or rewarding career path, therefore, it leaves our field with a systemic gap of needing qualified technicians and no one wanting to explore those opportunities. I wanted to bring awareness to future technicians of what it’s really like to have a career as a technician with a reputable company and sought out to do something to address this image obstacle head-on. I first reached out to the local BOCES in Mexico, NY, where I met with Carol Taormina, work base learning coordinator, with the idea of introducing students to the e...
Read more