Not surprisingly, Pennsylvania is at the center of the automation revolution. Some of the best and brightest minds in research, development and engineering are situated at the world-class research institutions in the state — notably Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pennsylvania and Penn State. In fact, the world’s very first autonomous vehicle, a little six-wheeled character called the “Terregator,” was built at Carnegie Mellon in the 1980’s, and the U.S. Department of Transportation has named Penn State and the City of Pittsburgh as official HAV proving grounds — one of 10 such designations in the country.

Last year, PennDOT convened a task force of diverse stakeholders representing industry, government, academia and advocacy organizations to form the Autonomous Vehicle Policy Task Force. The task force operates as a collaborative, consensus-seeking group of experts to make recommendations for proper HAV on-road testing that balances innovation and safety. We are also working closely with legislators and their staff to craft legislation that will safely promote HAV testing and operation on Pennsylvania roadways.

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