Author: Ryan Hall

Public Listening Summit on Automated Vehicle Policy
By Will Simon, U.S.-Israel Future Mobility Center

Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) held its Public Listening Summit on Automated Vehicle Policy at DOT headquarters. The meeting kicked off by Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, reaffirmed DOT’s commitment to working across all sectors and aisles to create an ecosystem that encourages innovation and establishes the United States as the global leader in transportation technology. Over five hundred stakeholders from industry, state and local governments, consumer groups, and more were in attendance with another five hundred live-streaming the meeting online. Automated Driving Systems 2.0 has been viewed over 120,000 times making it the most viewed document in DOT history. Secretary Chao set the tone for the summit by addressing both the potential safety and societal benefits of automated systems while expressing her concern for issues such as privacy and workforce development – a topic closely tied to her as a former Secretary of Labor. Secretary Chao concluded her remarks by introducing the six principles the Federal Automated Vehicle Policy (FAVP) 3.0 will address.

The six principles will address key issues such as terminology ambiguity, privacy, and data exchange, intermodal transportation. The full list is as follows:

1. Safety will continue to be DOT’s number one priority.
2. DOT’s approach to AV policy will be completely tech neutral and not top down. DOT will not pick winners and will let the market decide on the safest and most adaptable technologies.
3. When regulations are needed, they will be non-prescriptive and performance-based. Regarding all regulatory actions moving forward, DOT will not assume the driver is a human.
4. DOT will work the states and other authorities to avoid a patchwork approach to policy that will inhibit innovation.
5. DOT will provide stakeholders with guidance, best practices, and pilot programs, to make ready complimentary technologies including but not limited to V2V and V2X.
6. DOT recognizes that there will always be the need to operate side-by-side with traditional manned vehicles in both rural and urban settings and DOT will not assume universal implementation.

Trucking Takes Center Stage

American Trucking Associations’ CEO Chris Spear shined in the first panel, moderated by Intel’s Marjorie Dickman, as he gave an insightful outlook of the trucking industry’s economic impact in the United States. The trucking industry accounts for 1 in every 16 jobs in America, yet there is a growing shortage of drivers and new innovative workers. Spear believes automated systems can supplement that short, but the false hysteria around issues such as job loss is inhibiting the industry’s ability to attract new young talent. Engaging the media more to promote more sensible coverage of the transition and replacing terms like “driverless” with “driver assist” will enable the trucking industry not only to address the issues it is facing but lead the automated driving future. Fellow panelists Mike Newcomb of Union Pacific and Shane Karr of Fiat Chrysler echoed Spear’s sentiment and expressed the need for a clearer roadmap to automated vehicle policy and more intermodal discussions among stakeholders. Regulators need not get ahead of themselves in their policy-making efforts; rather, they should focus on clarifying and updating current regulatory standards to streamline technology ready for the road today.

There Are No Republican or Democratic Potholes

The same is true for autonomous vehicle legislation, at least for now. While the House’s bill passed 54-0 in committee, Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Melissa Froelich admitted that the bill did not address the hardest issues – yet. Miss Froelich’s committee held of 300 stakeholder meetings in 2017 to help develop the bill, but they are still working through many of the more challenging issues, such as cyber and privacy, and countless hypotheticals. There is a clear need for defined federal and state roles to get NHTSA the data it needs to provide guidance and to address issues such as rural areas, workforce development, and intermodal transportation. Kirk Steudle, Michigan DOT’s Executive Director, touted his state’s efforts to deregulate from the beginning and how this approach has allowed Michigan to spring ahead in research, development, and testing. Michigan is now focusing on more in-depth issues such as real-time mapping updates which were a staple of Marjorie Dickman’s opening remarks. Tina Quigley, Nevada’s Regional Transportation Commission General Manager, brought the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) dynamic into more focus. Miss Quigley argued that there are many ways the transportation revolution can go, many of which leading to more miles traveled on our nation’s roads. If this is the case, all levels of government must prepare to invest in the infrastructure and technology needed to handle the increased VMT.

All Hands On Deck

The final panel allowed for a brief introduction from several of the other significant departments within DOT to express their commitment to collaboration and creating a truly intermodal transportation future. Centrally, the panel expressed the need for more data sharing to increase safety in areas such as work zones for the transit of hazardous materials. Victoria Hildebrand concluded the meeting by announcing a national dialogue on automation that will begin this summer throughout the entire country.

Full Summary Report 

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OmniAir’s Newest Member is Focused on V2X Security

Penta Security Systems, Inc., a leading provider of web, IoT, and data security solutions and services, has joined OmniAir Consortium.

Penta Security Systems brings over 20 years IT security expertise in powering secured connections. The company’s connected car security solution, AutoCrypt is a security solution for smart, connected cars, allowing for security for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), and vehicle-to-device (V2D).

In 2017, Penta Security Systems was selected to lead installation and operation of security systems for K-City, a new test bed-the first of its kind in Korea and second largest in the world.

“I am pleased that Penta Security Systems has decided to join OmniAir,” said Jason Conley, Executive Director of OmniAir Consortium. “The company’s deep expertise and experience in V2X security will help OmniAir advance its mission of providing independent, third-party certification for connected vehicle devices around the world.”

Penta Security Systems is the latest company to join the fast-growing OmniAir Consortium, which launched the world’s first DSRC-V2X certification program in October. OmniAir’s Cybersecurity Working Group is focused on additional security testing as part of certification criteria for V2X devices.

About OmniAir Consortium
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and Connected Vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories. Learn more about OmniAir at www.omniair.org.

About Penta Security
Penta Security Systems Inc. is a leader in web, IoT, and data security solutions and services. With 20 years of IT security expertise in powering secured connections, Penta Security is the top cybersecurity vendor in Asia, as recognized by Frost & Sullivan, and APAC market share leader in the WAF industry. Driving innovations across encryption, authentication, and signature-free firewall detection technology, Penta Security’s whole-system approach to security enables resilience in an era of hyper web integration and connectivity. For more information on Penta Security, visit http://www.pentasecurity.com.

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MET Labs,  the first OmniAir Authorized Test Laboratory for Tolling Interoperability Certification, has acquired by Eurofins Scientific. OmniAir Consortium’s 6C Certification Program is designed to ensure tolling tag and reader interoperability (IOP) across equipment vendors and toll facilities and is based on ISO/IEC 18000-6 (Type C) RFID protocol.

MET is a leader in testing and certification for automotive, medical devices, household appliances, and aerospace products. MET ensures that its customer’s products or equipment comply with government, regulatory, and industry safety standards to protect populations and the workplace from potential risks associated with use. MET employs 200 people in its operations in the US, China, Taiwan, and Korea.

“Joining the Eurofins network was a natural progression for MET Labs and provides major growth opportunities for our business and extended services for our clients,” commented Rob Frier, President of MET Labs. “With the global network and backing of one of the world’s leading testing and certification organizations, MET’s customers will benefit from enhanced service offerings and innovation. The MET brand will continue to represent the highest level of competence and integrity.”

“OmniAir is pleased to continue its partnership with MET Labs to provide independent, third-party testing and certification for the tolling industry,” said Jason Conley, Executive Director for OmniAir Consortium.

MET Labs has provided the global marketplace with diversified testing, certification, and compliance solutions for 60 years. In 1989, MET became the first Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) approved to certify for product safety to over 200 UL standard categories and is trusted by manufacturers worldwide for fast market access.

About OmniAir Consortium
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and Connected Vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories. Learn more about OmniAir at www.omniair.org.

About Eurofins Scientific 
Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company which provides a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries. The Group believes it is the world leader in food, environment and pharmaceutical products testing and that it is also one of the global independent market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for agroscience, genomics, discovery pharmacology and for supporting clinical studies. In addition, Eurofins is one of the key emerging players in specialty clinical diagnostic testing in Europe and the USA.

About MET Laboratories, Inc. 
MET is a global service leader for product approvals and regulatory certification of electrical products. In 1989, MET broke the UL monopoly for product safety testing and certification in the United States. With global facilities, international accreditations and 60 years of experience, today MET provides electrical product market access for its customers, worldwide.

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OmniAir Consortium is proud to announce that Erik Schetina, Director of Special Projects, INTEGRITY Security Services, Green Hills Software, will serve as the Chair of the newly launched Cybersecurity Working Group. Under Erik’s leadership and direction, there is no doubt that the working group will successfully achieve its goals and objectives.

OmniAir’s understanding of the critical role that cybersecurity plays in protecting connected vehicle technologies from unwanted or unauthorized attacks has prompted the creation of its newest committee. As cities around the country, and globally, continue to deploy connected vehicle technologies, such as onboard and roadside units, it is important to ensure that the units are secure. The focus of the Cybersecurity working group is two-pronged: provide at least a baseline set of principles and best-practices self-assessment for vendors, around which vendors can begin to coalesce for compliance; and develop a detailed and testable specification which will become the basis for OmniAir certification.

“We want to preserve the integrity of the V2X ecosystem,” said Chair Erik Schetina.

OmniAir members currently participating in the group include OnBoard Security, UL, Savari, DEKRA, SGS, INTEGRITY Security Services, ESCRYPT, Aptiv, and HNTB.

The working group’s next meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 10:30 AM ET. OmniAir members with expertise in cybersecurity are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Cybersecurity Working Group. To learn more, or if you are interested in joining, please contact Kate Oldham at koldham@omniair.org.

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OmniAir Predicts Record Membership Growth for 2018

As companies continue to grow their connected vehicle and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) portfolio, more corporations are looking to distinguish themselves from the competition. One of their strategies is joining OmniAir Consortium.

While customers are looking to deploy trusted communication devices, they are also looking for a simple way to cut through the hype. It is one thing to tell your client your product conforms to the standards, but another to prove it. OmniAir provides the third-party validation your customers are craving.

In 2017, OmniAir had an impressive 45 percent growth rate in membership. 2018 is starting off strong as we add two household names to our membership roster: Siemens and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. In addition, we have several companies that have completed their membership applications, including our first OEM! Stay tuned for that major announcement.

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2018, which ended on September 30, 2018, Siemens generated revenue of €83.0 billion and net income of €6.2 billion. At the end of September 2018, the company had around 377,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the world’s largest radio company measured by revenue and has more than 32.7 million subscribers. SiriusXM creates and offers commercial-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; exclusive talk and entertainment, and a wide-range of Latin music, sports and talk programming. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company and on smartphones and other connected devices as well as online at siriusxm.com. SiriusXM radios and accessories are available from retailers nationwide and online at SiriusXM. SiriusXM also provides premium traffic, weather, data and information services for subscribers through SiriusXM Traffic™, SiriusXM Travel Link, NavTraffic®, NavWeather™. SiriusXM delivers weather, data and information services to aircraft and boats through SiriusXM Aviation™ and SiriusXM Marine™. In addition, SiriusXM Music for Business provides commercial-free music to a variety of businesses. SiriusXM holds a minority interest in SiriusXM Canada which has approximately 2.8 million subscribers. SiriusXM is also a leading provider of connected vehicles services, giving customers access to a suite of safety, security, and convenience services including automatic crash notification, stolen vehicle recovery assistance, enhanced roadside assistance and turn-by-turn navigation.

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