New Generation of Intelligent Transportation Systems and Vehicles: Combining Human and Engineering Factors

Dear Colleagues,

The highly promised adoption of so-called driverless cars, or Automated Vehicles (AVs), at SAE levels 3 and above has been slow. Despite initial optimism, concepts that were considered exciting in the 2010s have scarcely reached high Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) or improved beyond Proof of Concept, despite considerable investment. The economics of such services remain questionable. In addition, the potential of automated aviation services, such as drone deliveries or automated passenger services, appears to be facing a similar fate. This may be attributable to hard robotics problems emerging from the application of general artificial intelligence and robotic methods to tackle the corporeal, real world of transportation. Alternatively, it may be due to the problems of automation with a human in the loop, such as safety issues from takeover requests (TORs).

On the other hand, the promise of automation in some domains is gradually being realised using achievable automation as a means to address clearly identifiable existing transportation needs. Additionally, new opportunities are emerging from technologies such as Convolution Neural Networks, sensor fusion, and workload support for pilots. These new integrated technologies require proven interface designs, safe and serviceable equipment, and realisable economic models at higher TRLs. Importantly, they must also address legal certification and regulatory requirments.

Irrespective of the potential of technologies, one common factor that has emerged is the difficulty in considering the human context of use at the individual, passenger, and social levels. Engineering often overlooks the societal context of new technology and its implications for behaviour and infrastructure. There is a dearth of research examining economic, stakeholder, societal, decarbonisation, and human factors in conjunction with the new proposed configurations of technologies. Hence, this Special Issue seeks papers addressing solutions in novel areas, combining precisely scoped and engineered automation, electrification, disabled access, net-zero power sources, and specific engineering problems, such as highway driving, rural mobility or sub-regional aviation. Submissions should detail applications in cases of real-world usage, with the prospect of implementation in the near future, such as in 5 years.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not restricted to, the following:

Applications

1. In self-driving public transport and shared vehicles, including buses and cars;
2. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the transport of goods, emergency responses, and medical supplies;
3. Business models for automated aviation, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), and sub-regional aviation;
4. Inclusion through automated support of driving and mobility—essential travel.

Human Behaviour

5. User acceptance and the perceived need for automation;
6. Behavioural approaches to mode shifting towards sustainable and active travel;
7. Training people to use and understand automated technologies.

Infrastructure

8. Barriers and facilitators for automated vehicle infrastructure, including siting issues related to power, built environment, and local governance;
9. Designing automated transportation into smart cities, including intelligent or AI-facilitated control for road infrastructure;
10. Communication strategies for vehicles, road infrastructure, and traffic management.

Prof. Dr. Pat Langdon
Dr. Grigorios Fountas
Guest Editors

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• intelligent transport
• autonomous vehicles
• UAVs
• AAM
• inclusive transport
• user acceptance
• mode shifting
• automation training
• automated vehicle infrastructure
• smart city transportation
• communication for traffic management