Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 26, 1994 TAG: 9401260250
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Pethtel would not identify the automaker Virginia has allied with to help design cars that could virtually drive themselves. But he said the Department of Transportation and the company are on track to submit a consortium application to the Federal Highway Administration by the March 18 deadline.
The project could be a major boost to the state, particularly to the region around Virginia Tech.
If the partnership wins the project, much of the research to develop a prototype for the National Automated Highway System by 1997 would likely take place on a proposed smart highway near Tech.
Smart-highway backers say Virginia's membership in the partnership would give the state a huge advantage in attracting some of the $300 billion in automotive manufacturing the emerging technology is expected to generate in the next 20 years.
"This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Del. Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke. "It would be something unbelievable for this part of the state - white-collar jobs, big-time jobs."
The $50 million smart highway between Blacksburg and Interstate 81 would be filled with fiber optics, sensors and other devices. The intelligent vehicles would be equipped with computers, video displays, sensors and satellite and radio communications. The car and the highway could "talk" to each other to avoid collisions, detect accidents and receive travel information.
The next step would be an automated highway system that would actually take over for drivers.
"You buckle in, turn it on, program the computer and pick up the newspaper and read it while the highway takes you wherever you want to go," Pethtel said. "This is not Buck Rogers stuff, this is stuff on the table today - lane-guidance systems, collision-avoidance systems, all-weather visibility. It's a matter of finding a way to integrate these into the highway system."
Officials said Virginia has an advantage because most preliminary planning and engineering for the smart highway is done, though construction money has not been provided.
"We would be the only consortium that could say we will design a road for a test bed from the ground up," Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said. "The automated highway system is kind of the crown jewel of the entire [intelligent-vehicle] program."
by CNB