Research Plan

The primary focus of the ITS Standards Program will continue to be the development of high quality standards that directly support the ITS Program’s goals for an interoperable, connected, and standards-based transportation environment. Specifically, the predominant focus for the program is in two areas:

• Development of cooperative vehicle system standards, an effort that is informed by:
  • Results of ongoing connected vehicle technical and policy research activities, findings from field testing, and other global technological developments;
  • Adaptation of existing standards, where relevant; and
  • Harmonization through joint international efforts.
• Maintenance and upgrades to existing ITS infrastructure standards and identification of new standards as needed.

Research Tracks

To enact this strategy, the ITS Standards Program will conduct research and activities in five tracks:

• Track 1: Revise and Field Test Connected Vehicle Standards: A critical step in the completion of the connected vehicle standards is the ability to prototype and test new and revised standards in the connected vehicle test bed. While recommended changes may address problems detected during connected vehicle proof-of-concept tests changes may or may not work effectively in the field and ensure the successful operation of smart communications between vehicles.  Therefore,  the ITS Program intends to test implementations of the revised  standards based on standards test plans  and procedures that will verify that:  (1) the prototype implementations conform to the appropriate standard; and (2) the standards support  the capability needed to advance smart communications between vehicles  toward deployment.
• Track 2: Update and Test Support Standards: These standards include infrastructure, vehicle, transit, motor carrier, and other ITS technologies.
• Track 3: Apply Life-Cycle Management Principles to Standards Development Efforts: The program will work to improve standards quality and ensure that they are complete and correct.
• Track 4: Harmonize Connected Vehicle Standards: Where appropriate and in the public interest, the program will also work to ensure that the connected vehicle standards are internationally harmonized.
• Track 5: Establish Outreach and Training in Partnership with the ITS Professional Capacity Building (PCB) Program: The program will design and develop a standards training program to assist deployers in acquiring and testing ITS systems that use ITS Standards.

Research Goals:

• To globally harmonize connected vehicle technologies by taking an active role in developing and harmonizing standards and architectures around the vehicle platform.
• To provide the standardization necessary for vehicles and infrastructure to communicate, using widely available, affordable, and interoperable technologies that maximize safety and efficiency.

Research Outcomes:

Vehicle connectivity through harmonization of standards and architectures will reduce costs to industry and consumers in that hardware and/or software development costs will be spread over a larger user base, resulting in reduced unit costs. Harmonization of standards and architectures will also minimize differences in connected vehicle software and hardware manufactured across diverse markets, allowing private-sector markets to have a greater set of global opportunities