As autonomous vehicles move closer to joining our roadways in substantial numbers, state and federal governments are considering how to develop safety regulations for this new technology. North Carolina is one of ten states to have a federally-recognized proving ground for testing autonomous vehicles, located on 13 miles of Interstate 540 in Raleigh.

This team analyzed trends in state governance across the country and applied lessons learned to North Carolina. Team members prepared two white papers on state-level regulation and a proposal for the use of the proving ground, and compiled a set of policy recommendations for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Students also shared team findings at the State Energy Conference in Raleigh, where they received honorable mention for their poster. Environmental Management student Soli Shin completed a related master’s project, and all three faculty leaders will continue to collaborate on research into this issue.

Timing

Spring 2017 – Spring 2018

Team Outcomes

Lori S. Bennear, Jonathan B. Wiener. “Built to Learn: From Static to Adaptive Environmental Policy.” 2019. In A Better Planet: Forty Ideas for a Sustainable Future:353-360.

Governing Autonomous Vehicles: Policy Considerations for North Carolina (paper by Mary Coyne, Adam Fischer, Peter Ganz, Sarah Sibley and Sophie Tan), May 2018

Governing Automated Vehicles: North Carolina & Beyond (paper prepared for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Turnpike Authority, by Neel Bakshi, Jared Katzen, Leah Louis-Prescott, Vishnu Ramachandran and Soli Shin)

Governing Automated Vehicles: North Carolina and Beyond (talk at Bass Connections Showcase by Soli Shin and Sarah Sibley, April 18, 2018)

Governing Automated Vehicles: North Carolina and Beyond (poster by Neel Bakshi, Mary Coyne, Adam Fischer, Peter Ganz, Jared Katzen, Leah Louis-Prescott, Vishnu Ramachandran, Sarah Sibley, Soli Shin, Sophie Tan, Lori Bennear, Michael Clamann, Jonathan Wiener), presented at Bass Connections Showcase, April 18, 2018

Soli Shin, Ancillary Services Participation for Electric Vehicle Fleets (thesis project for Master of Environmental Management)

This Team in the News

Faculty Perspectives: Jonathan Wiener

Jonathan Wiener on Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Team Contributes to Policy Roadmap for Self-driving Vehicles in North Carolina

Watch Highlights from the 2018 Bass Connections Showcase

Bass Connections Showcase Presents Research Highlights from Durham to Malaysia

Join Us for Two Bass Connections Special Events on April 18 and 19

Local Research Helps Make Driverless Cars a Reality

New Innovation Space Opens in Gross Hall

New Book Edited by Duke Scholars Examines How Crises (Including Oil Spills and Nuclear Accidents) Reshape Regulation

Exploring the Impact of Autonomous Vehicle Legislation

Energy Student Profile: Leah Louis-Prescott (MEM ’18)

The Brief Breakdown, Episode 1: DOT Federal Automated Vehicle Policy (Part 1)