Profile: Drive Ohio

PAVE: How is Ohio preparing for automated vehicles? 

The State of Ohio made a bold statement when it established DriveOhio in January of 2018. To have a single organization housed within a department of transportation (DOT) focused on automated and connected vehicle technology on the ground and in the air is a huge advantage for us in Ohio. As you review our project portfolio, you will see we have lots of activity across the state.

PAVE: What AV deployments/tests have taken place in your area?

Here are a list of AV/CV projects in DriveOhio’s portfolio:

• US 33 Smart Mobility Corridor, complete summer 2020
•  US Department of Transportation (USDOT), ADS grant, this grant was award to DriveOhio in 2019 and will test autonomous vehicles in a rural setting in southeast Ohio.
•  USDOT, ATCMTD grant, this grant was just awarded to DriveOhio on June 12, 2020 and will test logistical truck automation on Interstate I-70 between Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana in revenue service delivery.
•  Smart Circuit AV shuttle, ran from Dec. 2018 through Sep. 27, 2019; route was downtown Columbus, Ohio
•  Linden LEAP AV shuttle, scheduled to run Feb. 16, 2019 through Feb. 2021
• SkyVision ground based detect and avoid system for beyond visual line of sight flight for drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). April 2019
• USDOT AV TEST program, was asked to be one of eight states to participate in this effort.

PAVE: What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your work with AVs?

At DriveOhio we work with automated and connected vehicle technology on the ground and in the air as we work to develop these systems to make travelers in Ohio safer. The one thing you must have for success are innovative partners who share the goals of organization, and your specific project. In a word, the most important thing is partnership.

Read more about DriveOhio on their website or follow them on social media @DriveOhio.