Ensuring American Leadership in 

Automated Vehicle Technologies

Automated Vehicles 4.0

A Report by the 

NATIONAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL 

and the

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

January 2020
Elaine L. Chao

United States Secretary of Transportation

Michael Kratsios

United States Chief Technology Officer

AS the world leader in technology, American innovation and ingenuity have historically transformed how we travel and 

connect with one another. Under this Administration, President Donald J. Trump has stressed the importance of ensuring 

America’s continued leadership in emerging technologies, including Automated Vehicles (AVs). With the development 

of AVs, America has the potential to once again transform the future of transportation, while also increasing economic 

growth and overall productivity. AVs—if developed properly- also have the potential to make our roadways safer by 

reducing crashes caused by human error, including crashes involving impaired or distracted drivers.

The release of Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles 4.0 (AV 4.0) marks another 

milestone in American innovation. The White House and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) developed AV 4.0 

to unify efforts in automated vehicles across 38 Federal departments, independent agencies, commissions, and Executive 

Offices of The President, providing high-level guidance to Federal agencies, innovators, and all stakeholders on the U.S. 

Government’s posture towards AVs. 

The USDOT is actively preparing for emerging technologies by engaging with new technologies to address legitimate 

public concerns about safety, security, and privacy without hampering innovation. With the release of Automated Driving 

Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety (ADS 2.0) in September 2017, the USDOT provided voluntary guidance to industry, as well as 

technical assistance and best practices to States, offering a path forward for the safe testing and integration of Automated 

Driving Systems. In October 2018, Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0 (AV 3.0) introduced guiding 

principles for AV innovation for all surface transportation modes, and described the USDOT’s strategy to address existing 

barriers to potential safety benefits and progress. 

Building upon these efforts, AV 4.0 details 10 U.S. Government principles to protect users and communities, promote 

efficient markets, and to facilitate coordinated efforts to ensure a standardized Federal approach to American leadership 

in AVs. It also presents ongoing Administration efforts supporting AV technology growth and leadership, as well as 

opportunities for collaboration including Federal investments in the AV sector and resources for AV sector innovators.

The landscape for AV innovation is complex and evolving. While significant investments and achievements are being made 

by industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations, further development of the technology itself is needed. Therefore, 

this Administration continues to evaluate its priorities for Federal research and development to ensure that investments 

advance AV innovations without duplicating industry efforts.

The future of transportation holds tremendous promise to strengthen the U.S. economy and make life safer and more mobile 

for all Americans. We look forward to continued efforts to ensure America leads the world in automated vehicle technologies. 

Letter from 

The United States Secretary of Transportation 

and the United States Chief Technology Officer
Contents

Executive Summary 1

I. Automated Vehicles 1

Potential Benefits of Automated Vehicle Technology 2

U.S. Government Automated Vehicle Technology Principles 3

Protect Users and Communities 4

Promote Efficient Markets 4

Facilitate Coordinated Efforts 5

II. Administration Efforts Supporting Automated Vehicle 

Technology Growth and Leadership 6

Advanced Manufacturing 6

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 6

Connected Vehicles and Spectrum 6

STEM Education 6

STEM Workforce 7

Supply Chain Integration 7

Quantum Information Science 7

III. U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for 

Collaboration 8

A. U.S. Government Investments in the Automated Vehicle Sector 8

Safety 8

Ensuring Mobility for All Americans 9

Fundamental Research 11

Security and Cybersecurity 21

Infrastructure 24

Spectrum and Connectivity 25

Economics and Workforce Research 27
B. U.S. Government Enabling Activities in the Automated Vehicle Sector 27

Fostering Collaboration with Government 27

Voluntary Consensus Standards and Other Guidance 29

Regulatory Authority and Automated Vehicles 30

Taxation, Trade, and Intellectual Property 31

Environmental Quality 34

Competition, Privacy, and Market Transparency 35

C. U.S. Government Resources for Automated Vehicle Sector Innovators 36

Federal Laboratories Test Beds and Technology Transfer 36

Small Business Administration Resources 36

United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Inventor and Entrepreneur Resources 37

USAspending.gov 37

Additional U.S. Government Resources 37

IV. Conclusion 37

V. Appendix A – U.S. Government Resources 38

VI. Appendix B – U.S. Government AV Contacts 42

VII. Appendix C – Automated Vehicle Fast Track Action 

Committee 43

VIII.Appendix D – Development and Writing Team 44

IX. Appendix E – Acronyms 46

About the National Science and Technology Council 51

About the Office of Science and Technology Policy 51

About this Document 51

Copyright Information 51
Automated Vehicles — 1

Executive Summary 

The United States Government is committed to fostering surface transportation innovations to ensure the United States 

leads the world in automated vehicle (AV) technology development and integration while prioritizing safety, security, 

and privacy and safeguarding the freedoms enjoyed by Americans. The U.S. Government recognizes the value of industry 

leadership in the research, development, and integration of AV innovations. Such innovation requires appropriate oversight 

by the Government to ensure safety, open markets, allocation of scarce public resources, and protection of the public 

interest. Realizing the full potential of AVs will require collaboration and information sharing among stakeholders from 

industry, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, academia, not-for-profit organizations, standards development 

organizations (SDO), and the Federal Government.

AV 4.0 presents a unifying posture to inform collaborative efforts in automated vehicles for all stakeholders and outlines 

past and current Federal Government efforts to address these areas of concern. AV 4.0 establishes U.S. Government 

principles that consist of three core interests, each of which is comprised of several sub-areas.

I. Protect Users and Communities

 1. Prioritize Safety

 2. Emphasize Security and Cybersecurity

 3. Ensure Privacy and Data Security

 4. Enhance Mobility and Accessibility

II. Promote Efficient Markets

 5. Remain Technology Neutral

 6. Protect American Innovation and Creativity

 7. Modernize Regulations

III. Facilitate Coordinated Efforts

 8. Promote Consistent Standards and Policies

 9. Ensure a Consistent Federal Approach 

 10. Improve Transportation System-Level Effects

While AV 4.0 cannot practically address all areas related to AVs, our intent is to facilitate and guide future efforts in a safe 

and consistent way in order to embolden AV innovators and entrepreneurs and enable the public.

I. Automated Vehicles 

The United States Government is committed to fostering surface transportation innovations to ensure the United States 

leads the world in automated vehicle (AV) technology development and integration while prioritizing safety, security, 

and privacy and safeguarding the freedoms enjoyed by Americans. The U.S. Government recognizes the value of industry 

leadership in the research, development, and integration of AV innovations. Such innovation requires appropriate oversight 

by the Government to ensure safety, open markets, allocation of scarce public resources, and protection of the public 

interest. Realizing the full potential of AVs will require collaboration and information sharing among stakeholders from 

industry, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, academia, not-for-profit organizations, standards development 

organizations (SDO), and the Federal Government.

This document is not intended to be an exhaustive catalog of Federal efforts, roles, or responsibilities. Rather, it outlines 

certain past and current Federal efforts, and compiles available key resources for innovators and entrepreneurs in the 

surface transportation AV domain. Our purpose is to document a sample of U.S. Government investments and resources 

related to AVs in order to support American leadership in AV and AV-related research and development (R&D).
 2 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

As such, the U.S. Government AV principles outlined here may align to a greater or lesser extent with any given Federal 

agency’s mission and areas of responsibilities. They are not intended to define the extent of concerns, but rather to inform 

efforts to work together in the AV domain.

Potential Benefits of Automated Vehicle Technology

There are many potential benefits to increasing R&D efforts for AV technology and furthering its broad adoption and 

use in the U.S. surface transportation system. Potential benefits to the American public could include improved safety 

and a reduction in roadway fatalities; improved quality of life, access, and mobility for all citizens; lower energy usage; 

and improved supply chain management.1 Today’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that help vehicles avoid 

collisions form the building blocks for tomorrow’s Automated Driving Systems (ADS). Advances in these technologies can 

reduce roadway crashes, fatalities, and injuries and assist the USDOT in “managing safety risks along the path to the full 

commercial integration of AV technology.”2

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has highlighted four main areas of potential benefit with regard 

to AVs: safety, economic and societal benefits, efficiency and convenience, and mobility.3 AVs also have great potential 

benefit for improving public safety on roadways. NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System report of traffic fatalities for 

2018 found that 36,560 people died from motor vehicle crashes in the U.S.4 By eliminating the possibility of human error or 

poor human choices (e.g., impairment or distraction) while driving, ADS has enormous potential to save lives and reduce 

the economic burden associated with crashes.

The potential economic and societal benefits of AVs could also be substantial, including increased economic productivity 

and efficiency, reduced commuting time, and even the potential reduction of the environmental impact of conventional 

surface vehicles while increasing overall system energy efficiency.5 In addition, adoption of AVs may provide mobility to 

citizens who currently face transportation challenges, increasing their access to jobs and services and their ability to live 

independently.6

AVs also have strong potential for increased benefits in more specialized operational design domains (ODD) such as, 

the agricultural domain, automated tractors and farm equipment have the potential to allow American farmers to track 

multiple vehicles and monitor field operations remotely. In addition, continued improvements in sensor technologies and 

software increasingly will allow equipment to operate in more complex environments and make precise observational 

decisions, deploying herbicides only when weeds are detected, for example.7 In the arena of commercial freight transport, 

AVs have the potential to safely haul freight long distances, which could decrease long-haul transport times and improve 

1 U.S. Congressional Research Service. Autonomous Vehicles: Emerging Policy Issues (IF10658 VERSION 3; May 23, 2017), by Bill Canis. https://crsreports.

congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10658

2 Chao, Elaine L. “AV 3.0 Roll Out remarks by USDOT Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao” https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/av-30-

roll-out

3 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Automated Vehicles for Safety. https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automatedvehicles#topic-benefits

4 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Automated Vehicles for Safety. https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automatedvehicles#topic-benefits

5 Groshen, Erica, John Paul Macduffie, Susan Helper, and Charles Carson. 2018. America’s Workforce and the Self-Driving Future: Realizing Productivity 

Gains and Spurring Economic Growth. Washington, DC: Securing America’s Future Energy. https://avworkforce.secureenergy.org/wp-content/

uploads/2018/06/Americas-Workforce-and-the-Self-Driving-Future_Realizing-Productivity-Gains-and-Spurring-Economic-Growth.pdf

6 For more information, see the following NSTC report: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Emerging-Tech-to-SupportAging-2019.pdf

7 McMahon, Karen. 2018. “Automated Farm Equipment Poised to Transform Production Practices.” http://www.syngenta-us.com/thrive/research/

automated-farm-equipment.html
Automated Vehicles — 3

supply chain management efficiencies. AV technology also has the potential to dramatically reduce congestion—one of the 

highest costs for freight movement—and to enable platooning technology that can reduce energy costs.8

Given that ADS are still currently in the R&D phase and not available for consumer purchase, data on collision rates for ADS 

under real-world conditions are limited at this time and a standardized vocabulary and methodology for evaluating and 

regulating their safety is still being developed by NHTSA, State regulators, and other stakeholders.9 However, numerous 

technologies that are related to ADS, such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise 

control, are already being incorporated into conventional vehicles and their effect on collision rates can be evaluated.

AVs hold enormous potential to promote the independence, economic opportunities, and social well-being of older 

Americans and persons with disabilities by offering independent mobility for daily activities. Reducing transportation 

related obstacles would enable new employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and could save billions 

annually in healthcare expenditures from missed medical appointments.10 Ensuring that AVs will meet the needs of 

Americans of all abilities will require carefully thought-out inclusive design to ensure widespread usability and market 

potential for persons with all types of disabilities—visual, auditory, cognitive, mobility, and others.11

The introduction of AVs in the coming decades has the potential to substantially affect many sectors of daily life. The U.S. 

Government’s deliberate and forward engagement of all stakeholders—including industry, government, the workforce, 

and the public—could help fulfill the potential for AVs to improve the quality of life for all Americans and grow the U.S. 

economy.

U.S. Government Automated Vehicle Technology Principles

USDOT, through Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0,12 developed principles that encompassed 

the equities of USDOT. In order for the American public to fully reap the individual, societal, and economic benefits of AV 

technology, the National Science and Technology Council’s (NSTC) Automated Vehicle Fast Track Action Committee (AV 

FTAC) expanded upon USDOT’s principles and adopted a total of 10 principles to protect users and communities, promote 

efficient markets, and facilitate coordinated efforts. Together, these principles will foster research, development, and 

integration of AVs in the United States and guide consistent policy across the U.S. Government.

The U.S. Government will be proactive about AVs and will provide guidance, best practices, conduct research and pilot 

programs, and other assistance to help stakeholders plan and make the investments needed for a dynamic and flexible 

future for all Americans. We will also prepare for complementary technologies that enhance the benefits of AVs, such as 

communications between vehicles and the surrounding environment, but will not assume universal implementation of 

any particular approach.

8 DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Platooning Trucks to Cut Cost and Improve Efficiency. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/

platooning-trucks-cut-cost-and-improve-efficiency

9 Fraade-Blanar, Laura, Marjory S. Blumenthal, James M. Anderson, and Nidhi Kalra. 2018. Measuring Automated Vehicle Safety: Forging a Framework. 

Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2662.html

10 Claypool, Henry, Amitai Bin-Nun, and Jeffrey Gerlach. 2017. Self-Driving Cars: The Impact on People with Disabilities. Boston, MA: Ruderman Family 

Foundation. https://rudermanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Self-Driving-Cars-The-Impact-on-People-with-Disabilities_FINAL.pdf

11 Bierstedt, Jane et al., 2014, “Effects of Next-Generation Vehicles on Travel Demand and Highway Capacity,” Princeton University. https://www.

fehrandpeers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/FP_Think_Next_Gen_Vehicle_White_Paper_FINAL.pdf

12 Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicle 3.0, USDOT. https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/policy-initiatives/

automated-vehicles/320711/preparing-future-transportation-automated-vehicle-30.pdf
 4 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

I. Protect Users and Communities

AVs have the potential to improve physical safety for vehicle operators and occupants, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, 

and other travelers sharing the road. To realize these benefits, we must attend to the public’s safety, security, and privacy.

1. Prioritize Safety

The U.S. Government will lead efforts to facilitate the safe integration of AV technologies, address potential safety risks, 

enhance the life-saving potential of AVs, and strengthen public confidence in these emerging technologies. The U.S. 

Government will also enforce existing laws to ensure entities do not make deceptive claims or mislead the public about 

the performance capabilities and limitations of AV technologies including, for example, deceptive claims relating to 

vehicle safety or performance.

2. Emphasize Security and Cybersecurity

The U.S. Government will support the design and implementation of secure AV technologies, the systems on which 

they rely, and the functions that they support to adequately safeguard against the threats to security and public safety 

posed by criminal or other malicious use of AVs and related services. The U.S. Government will work with developers, 

manufacturers, integrators, and service providers of AVs and AV services to ensure the successful prevention, mitigation, 

and investigation of crimes and security threats targeting or exploiting AVs, while safeguarding privacy, civil rights, and 

civil liberties. These efforts include the development and promotion of physical and cybersecurity standards and best 

practices across all data mediums and domains of the transportation system to deter, detect, protect, respond, and 

safely recover from known and evolving risks.

3. Ensure Privacy and Data Security

The U.S. Government will use a holistic, risk-based approach to protect the security of data and the public’s privacy as AV 

technologies are designed and integrated. This will include protecting driver and passenger data as well as the data of 

passive third-parties—such as pedestrians about whom AVs may collect data—from privacy risks such as unauthorized 

access, collection, use, or sharing.

4. Enhance Mobility and Accessibility

The U.S. Government embraces the freedom of the open road, which includes the freedom for Americans to drive their 

own vehicles. The U.S. Government envisions an environment in which AVs operate alongside conventional, manually 

driven vehicles and other road users; therefore, the U.S. Government will protect the ability of consumers to make the 

mobility choices that best suit their needs. The U.S. Government will support AV technologies that enhance freedom by 

providing additional options for consumers to access goods and services, allowing individuals to live and work in places 

that fit their families’ needs and expanding access to safe, affordable, accessible, and independent mobility options to 

all people, including those with disabilities and older Americans.

II. Promote Efficient Markets

AVs offer a dynamic area for R&D. To promote rapid development of the technologies underlying AVs, the U.S. Government 

will promote market efforts for American investment and innovation.

5. Remain Technology Neutral

The U.S. Government will adopt—and promote the adoption on an international level of—flexible, technology-neutral 

policies that will allow the public, not the Federal Government or foreign governments, to choose the most economically 

efficient and effective transportation and mobility solutions. 
Automated Vehicles — 5

6. Protect American Innovation and Creativity

The U.S. Government will continue to advance pro-growth policies to protect our economic prosperity and innovative 

competitiveness, promote new engines of growth, and to prioritize America’s innovative and creative capacity in all 

sectors, including AVs. The U.S. Government will continue to promote sensitive emerging technologies through the 

protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights—patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets—technical 

data, and sensitive proprietary communications and will continue to work to prevent other nations from gaining unfair 

advantage at the expense of American innovators.

7. Modernize Regulations

The U.S. Government will modernize or eliminate outdated regulations that unnecessarily impede the development of 

AVs—or that do not address critical safety, mobility, and accessibility needs—to encourage a consistent regulatory and 

operational environment. In doing so, it will promote regulatory consistency among State, local, tribal and territorial, and 

international laws and regulations so that AVs can operate seamlessly nationwide and internationally. When regulation 

is needed, the U.S. Government will seek rules, both at home and abroad, that are as performance-based and nonprescriptive as possible and do not discriminate against American technologies, products, or services. 

III. Facilitate Coordinated Efforts

AVs touch upon areas of concern to Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, while also directly affecting 

international cooperation. This complex governance environment offers opportunities for collaboration, facilitation, and 

information sharing.

8. Promote Consistent Standards and Policies

The U.S. Government will prioritize participation in and advocate abroad for voluntary consensus standards and evidencebased and data driven regulations. The U.S. Government will engage State, local, tribal and territorial authorities as 

well as industry to promote the development and implementation of voluntary consensus standards, advance policies 

supporting the integration of AVs throughout the transportation system, and seek harmonized technical standards and 

regulatory policies with international partners.

9. Ensure a Consistent Federal Approach

The U.S. Government will proactively facilitate coordination of AV research, regulations, and policies across the Federal 

Government to ensure maximum effectiveness and leverage inter-agency resources. The U.S. Government will ensure all 

Federal dollars used for automated and connected vehicle research, grants, and any other Federal funding opportunities 

will comply with Executive Order 13788 (Buy American and Hire American), Executive Order 13881 (Maximizing Use 

of American-Made Goods, Products, and Materials), and all current laws, regulations, and Executive orders to ensure 

American growth and leadership in AV technology. 

10. Improve Transportation System-Level Effects

The U.S. Government will focus on opportunities to improve transportation system-level performance, efficiency, and 

effectiveness while avoiding negative transportation system-level effects from AV technologies.
 6 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

II. Administration Efforts Supporting Automated Vehicle 

Technology Growth and Leadership 

The Administration has prioritized the development of AVs, including them as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Administration 

Research and Development Budget Priorities.13, 14

The Administration, through the NSTC and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), has convened 

workshops and published strategy documents to inform efforts in a number of building blocks for AV technology growth, 

outlined below. Moreover, the U.S. Government addresses a wide range of concerns related to AVs from conceptualization, 

through R&D, to support of commercialization. A sample of those efforts is provided here to outline these broad investments.

Advanced Manufacturing

The NSTC released A Strategy for American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing in October 2018, which presents the 

Administration’s vision for American leadership in advanced manufacturing across industrial sectors to ensure national 

security and economic prosperity.15 Advanced manufacturing offers the promise of increasing productivity and efficiency 

for existing product types, as well as allowing for entirely new production methods.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

On February 11, 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 13840 Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial 

Intelligence (AI), which launched the American AI Initiative. This initiative implements a whole-of-government national 

strategy in collaboration and engagement with the private sector, academia, the public, and like-minded international 

partners. It directs Federal agencies to pursue a multipronged approach to advance AI, including: promoting sustained 

AI R&D investment, enhancing access to high-quality cyberinfrastructure and data, removing barriers to AI innovation, 

providing education and training opportunities to prepare the American workforce for AI, and fostering an international 

environment favorable to American AI innovation.

Connected Vehicles and Spectrum

In June 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released the Facilitate America's Superiority in 5G Technology 

Plan (also known as the 5G FAST Plan). This plan includes three key components: (1) pushing more spectrum into the 

marketplace; (2) updating infrastructure policy; and (3) modernizing outdated regulations.16 High-speed communications 

support Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) environment data exchange. Such data exchange allows 

AVs to receive and contribute data beyond their on-board sensors’ physical range. Wireless technologies that complement 

the capabilities of automated vehicle technologies are a priority of the current administration.17

STEM Education

AVs are an application of a variety of contributing and complementary technologies, including advanced manufacturing, 

high-speed communications technologies, advanced computational capabilities, computer vision, advanced sensors, 

data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. As such, education in science, technology, engineering, and 

mathematics (STEM) and computer science plays a critical role in these technological advancements. The NSTC released 

13 “Additional R&D is needed to safely and efficiently integrate autonomous driving systems and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including urban air 

mobility aircraft, onto our roadways and into the national airspace. Specifically, agencies should prioritize R&D to lower barriers to the deployment of 

autonomous vehicles and to develop operating standards and a traffic management system for UAS” (M-18-22, July 2018).

14 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FY-21-RD-Budget-Priorities.pdf

15 For the full text, see https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Advanced-Manufacturing-Strategic-Plan-2018.pdf

16 The FCC’s 5G FAST Plan. https://www.fcc.gov/5G

17 Emerging Technologies and Their Expected Impact on Non-Federal Spectrum Demand, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/

Emerging-Technologies-and-Impact-on-Non-Federal-Spectrum-Demand-Report-May-2019.pdf
Administration Efforts Supporting Automated Vehicle Technology Growth and Leadership — 7

Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education in December 2018, which sets out a Federal strategy for 

the next 5 years based on a vision for a future in which all Americans have lifelong access to high-quality STEM education, 

and the United States is a global leader in STEM literacy, innovation, and employment.18

STEM Workforce

Advances in innovation are dependent on a vibrant, scientifically literate workforce. Federal STEM strategy encourages 

expansion of educator-employer partnerships that promote work-based learning experiences to offer powerful, relevant 

ways to ensure that STEM learning is authentic and engaging and that learners are prepared to succeed. The July 19, 

2018, Executive Order Establishing the President’s National Council for the American Worker created the Council to develop 

recommendations for the President on policy and strategy related to the American workforce, building upon the June 2017 

Presidential Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America intended to promote the development of apprenticeship 

programs by third parties and to prioritize the use of apprenticeships by Federal agencies.19

Supply Chain Integration

The May 15, 2019, Executive Order on Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain

banned any new acquisition, importation, transfer, installation, dealing in, or use of any information and communications 

technology or service (transaction) by any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of any products or services 

from a foreign-owned company or foreign person subject to a determination by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation 

with the heads of other departments and agencies.20

Quantum Information Science

The NSTC released the National Strategic Overview for Quantum Information Science in September 2018, which lays out 

a visible, systematic, national approach to quantum information research and development.21 Congress passed and the 

President signed into law the National Quantum Initiative Act in December 2018, which, among other activities, established 

the Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science within NSTC, and the National Quantum Initiative Advisory 

Committee. The Advisory Committee advises the President and the Subcommittee on the national quantum program 

and trends and developments in quantum information science and technology.22 In addition, the economic and national 

security implications of quantum science are highlighted by additional coordination and funding in the National Defense 

Authorization Act of 2018.23 Sensors, optimization, and security are areas where overlaps exist between the R&D interests 

for AVs and quantum information science. For example, the Global Positioning System (GPS) is a well-developed example 

of how quantum technologies, in this case atomic clocks in space, have revolutionized navigation. Additional sensors based 

on quantum technologies are transforming inertial navigation, a key backup technology to GPS. At the same time, new 

approaches for solving challenging multi-vehicle scheduling and optimization of machine learning systems may benefit 

from developments in quantum computing. Finally, the cybersecurity of automated platforms will require appropriate 

standards that are resistant to attack from a quantum computer, as covered in the National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework.24

18 For the full text, see https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STEM-Education-Strategic-Plan-2018.pdf

19 For the full text, see https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/3245/; https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-orderestablishing-presidents-national-council-american-worker/

20 For the full text, see https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-securing-information-communications-technology-servicessupply-chain/

21 National Strategic Overview for Quantum Information Science. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-StrategicOverview-for-Quantum-Information-Science.pdf

22 Public Law No: 115-368 (12/21/2018) National Quantum Initiative Act.

23 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2810

24 NIST Cybersecurity Framework. https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework
 8 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

III. U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for 

Collaboration 

The U.S. Government has invested in the development of foundational and complementary technologies for AVs to advance 

novel science and technology and provide support to innovators and entrepreneurs bringing technological advances 

to market. This continued investment will ensure public safety in a rapidly changing technological landscape, promote 

greater economic productivity and more efficient consumption of available resources, protect intellectual property, and 

safeguard the privacy of individuals and the security of the Nation. 

A. U.S. Government Investments in the Automated Vehicle Sector

The U.S. Government is actively funding AV R&D and investing in the development of technologies to enable and complement 

an efficient transition toward a transportation system in which AVs and conventional surface vehicles operate seamlessly 

and safely. These investment areas include safety, mobility, security and cybersecurity, infrastructure, and connectivity.

Safety

Safety is a key component for the development of a transportation system that efficiently and effectively incorporates 

AVs. The U.S. Government prioritizes safety for vehicle operators—including low-speed vehicles, motorcycles, passenger 

vehicles, medium-duty vehicles, and heavy-duty commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), such as large trucks and buses—and 

vehicle occupants, pedestrians, bicyclists, and all other road users. 

Department of Transportation

USDOT’s mission is to ensure our Nation has the safest, most efficient, and modern transportation system in the 

world, which improves the quality of life for all American people and communities, from rural to urban, and increases 

the productivity and competitiveness of American workers and businesses. As a steward of the Nation’s roadway 

transportation system, the Federal Government plays a significant role in facilitating the safe and effective integration 

of AVs into the existing transportation system, alongside conventional vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, 

and other road users. Furthermore, USDOT is provided with significant research, regulatory, and enforcement authority 

to protect the safety of the American public pertaining to various aspects of AVs, to include establishing manufacturing, 

performance, and operational standards and supporting research that explores societal implications and interactions 

as AVs development and testing matures and eventually integration becomes increasingly common. Key modal agencies 

that are most relevant to surface transportation AVs are NHTSA, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 

Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): 

• NHTSA’s mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce the economic costs of road traffic crashes through 

education, research, safety standards, and enforcement activity. NHTSA sets and enforces safety performance 

standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, identifying safety defects, and through the development 

and delivery of effective highway safety programs for State and local jurisdictions.

• FMCSA’s mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. FMCSA partners with 

industry, safety advocates, and State and local governments to keep the Nation’s roads safe and improve CMV safety 

through regulation, education, enforcement, research, and technology.

• FTA provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter 

rail, trolleys, and ferries. FTA also oversees safety measures and helps develop next-generation technology research.
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 9

• FHWA is responsible for providing stewardship over the construction, maintenance, and preservation of the Nation’s 

highways, bridges, and tunnels. Through research and technical assistance, the FHWA supports its partners in Federal, 

State, and local agencies to accelerate innovation and improve safety and mobility. 

National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was established to determine the cause of certain crashes and to apply 

the lessons discovered in each investigation through recommendations to prevent future crashes. The NTSB selects and 

prioritizes highway safety investigations by the likelihood of gaining new knowledge. It has been focusing considerable 

resources on crashes involving AV control systems. The NTSB investigates crashes of vehicles under automated control 

and applies systemic lessons from other modes of transportation where human control has been replaced with 

automation in human-centric environments.

For the foreseeable future, motorists are expected to have many options for transportation, including shared AVs and 

AVs for personal use. The NTSB’s work to investigate and prevent crashes could enhance public confidence by providing 

an accurate public perception that failures are taken seriously and corrected. This confidence, in turn, will help support 

more accurate public understanding of AV technology.

The NTSB will also continue to advocate favorable action on recommendations germane to AVs and their building 

blocks, such as promoting the use of collision avoidance systems that confer a proven safety benefit and high potential 

to improve safety.

Ensuring Mobility for All Americans

Freedom of mobility is fundamental to the American way of life. AVs—whether passenger vehicles or State, local, and 

private transportation systems—have the potential to expand access and ease of movement and travel, particularly for 

people with limited mobility due to disability, injury, or age. Therefore, the U.S. Government is dedicated to ensuring that 

AVs are designed to offer independent mobility for daily activities as well as promote economic opportunities and overall 

social well-being for all Americans.

Department of Health and Human Services

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is the primary research 

arm of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its 

mission is to generate new knowledge and promote its effective use to improve the abilities of individuals with disabilities 

to perform activities of their choice in the community, and to expand society’s capacity to provide full opportunities and 

accommodations for citizens with disabilities. 

Department of the Interior

The National Park Service (NPS) in the Department of the Interior (DOI) is dedicated to conserving the natural and 

cultural resources and values of the NPS for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. 

NPS sees AV opportunities in the near future as potential mobility aids in key locations. Exploration of AV technology 

will provide contexts to learn how it can be integrated into NPS operations, what hurdles exist for future automation 

opportunities, and how automation will best fit within the agency’s mission. Currently, NPS is establishing program and 

technical connections with USDOT for support of information on technical and programmatic opportunities regarding 

AVs, support for information gathering, and potential pilot testing at National Park sites.
USDOT hosted the Access and Mobility for All Summit to raise 

awareness of USDOT and government-wide efforts to improve 

access and mobility for persons with disabilities, older adults, 

and individuals of low income and identify priority Federal 

and non-Federal activities and innovations that can provide 

more efficient, affordable, and accessible vehicles and 

mobility services such as transit and ridesharing. 

The following announcements were made by Secretary Elaine 

L. Chao during this summit: 

1. Up to $40 Million for a Complete Trip Deployment 

Solicitation

2. $5 million in cash prizes for a planned Inclusive Design 

Challenge

3. Notice of Funding Opportunity for FTA’s FY 2020 

Mobility for All Pilot Program

4. A strategic plan for the Coordinating Council on Access 

and Mobility (CCAM)

For reference: (https://www.transportation.gov/accessibility)

 10 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

Department of Justice

The Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that ensure equal 

access to private transportation systems for persons with disabilities. DOJ also investigates complaints regarding disability 

discrimination in public transportation that it receives directly or that are referred by USDOT. The precise applicability of the 

ADA’s regulations and DOJ’s role will depend on the type of AV at issue, who is providing or using it, and how the vehicle 

is being used. However, covered entities that choose to adopt AVs would need to do so in compliance with the ADA.

Department of Transportation

USDOT encourages AV developers and operatorsto work 

proactively with the disability community to support 

efforts that focus on the array of accommodations 

needed for different types of disabilities and ways to 

improve mobility as a whole. 25

NHTSA has the authority to set performance 

requirements for adaptive motor vehicle equipment 

and develop exemptions that permit the modification 

of motor vehicles used by persons with disabilities.26

Additionally, ADA regulations require accessible, 

timely public transportation service for passengers 

with disabilities, including wheelchair users.27 FTA 

works to ensure nondiscriminatory and integrated 

mobility services in support of FTA’s mission to 

enhance the social and economic quality of life for 

all Americans.28 Additionally, USDOT’s Accessible 

Transportation Technologies Research Initiative29

(ATTRI) is a joint USDOT initiative, co-led by the FHWA, 

FTA, and the Intelligent Transportation Systems 

Joint Program Office30 (ITS JPO), with support from 

NIDILRR and other Federal partners. The ATTRI 

Program is leading efforts to develop and implement 

transformative applications to improve mobility 

options for all travelers, particularly those with 

disabilities.

National Council on Disability

The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent Federal agency comprised of Presidential and congressional 

appointees. Pursuant to its statutory mandate, 29 U.S.C. § 781, the Council is charged with reviewing Federal laws, 

25 https://www.transportation.gov/accessibility

26 https://one.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/adaptive/index.html

27 https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/americans-disabilities-act-reporting-and-other-requirements-over-road-bus-companies

28 https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-ada/americans-disabilities-act

29 https://www.its.dot.gov/research_areas/attri/index.htm

30 https://www.its.dot.gov/automated_vehicle/avr_plan.htm
A new generation of automated high clearance tractor 

is being equipped for crop field-based trait analyses 

with an array of sensors for use by breeders at the USDA 

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Arid Land Agricultural 

Research Center (ALARC) in Maricopa, AZ. This technology 

will replace the human piloted sensor platform shown 

below that is tasked with analyzing wheat for multiple traits 

simultaneously. (Photo credit: USDA)

 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 11

regulations, programs, and policies affecting persons with disabilities to assess the effectiveness of such laws, 

regulations, programs, and policies in meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities, and making recommendations 

to the President, Congress, officials of Federal agencies, and other Federal entities regarding ways to better promote 

equal opportunity, economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society 

for Americans with disabilities. 

The NCD provided policy recommendations on the advantages of AVs for persons with disabilities in its 2015 publication: 

Self-Driving Cars: Mapping Access to a Technology Revolution.

31 The report explores the emerging revolution in automobile 

technology and the promise it holds for persons with disabilities, as well as the obstacles the disability community faces.

U.S. Access Board

The U.S. Access Board is an independent Federal agency that promotes equality for persons with disabilities through 

leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards. While the Access Board 

does not have rulemaking authority in the area of AVs, the agency has hosted presentations by USDOT and the Department 

of Labor (DOL) on issues related to ensuring AV accessibility for individuals with disabilities and has provided technical 

assistance on making AVs accessible to them. In addition, the Board has a Frontiers Committee that engages partners 

on many aspects of AVs and released the 2018 Final Rule on Section 508 for access to technology procured and used by 

the U.S. Government.

Fundamental Research

The U.S. Government fosters research, development, 

and integration of AVs and supports many ongoing and 

future Federal investments. Advancing AV innovation and 

expanding the potential role of AVs in daily life requires 

thoughtful and effective design, research, demonstration, 

testing, and validation. Numerous Federal agencies 

carry out or support academic research on AVs and 

complementary technologies. 

Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts 

research on AVs related to agricultural production and 

processing. The research areas include unmanned 

ground vehicles (UGV), and autosteer equipment. The 

USDA is heavily involved in the design and development 

of numerous AVs, supporting technologies and tools 

for precision agriculture and for crop breeding such as: 

sensor development, lighting systems, voice response 

systems, predictive modeling, AI/machine learning, rapid 

response control systems, robotics, big data analytics, 

and best management practice decision support tools. 

31 https://www.ncd.gov/publications/2015/self-driving-cars-mapping-access-technology-revolution
 12 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

The USDA’s research includes a focus on developing AV tools and systems that decrease labor requirements for managing 

animals in ranching operations.

Robotics is another primary research area. Much of this research is funded through USDA’s National Institute of Food 

and Agriculture’s (NIFA) contribution to the National Robotics Initiative 2.0.32 These robotics-centered projects include 

precision pollination, precision grazing, precision orchard harvesting, precision herbicide application, livestock health 

monitoring, plant phenotyping, and cooperative human-robotic networks for agricultural applications. 

A new generation of automated high clearance tractor is being equipped for crop field-based trait analyses with an array 

of sensors for use by breeders at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Arid Land Agricultural Research Center 

(ALARC) in Maricopa, AZ. This technology will replace the human piloted sensor platform shown below that is tasked with 

analyzing wheat for multiple traits simultaneously. 

Department of Defense

Autonomy plays a major role in the Department of Defense’s (DoD) military missions, and its role in future military 

missions will likely expand as the technology continues to develop. The DoD’s R&D for military purposes contributes 

to R&D for civilian applications of AVs as well. The role of autonomy within the DoD is not to directly replace humans, 

but rather to extend and complement human capabilities in a number of ways. The DoD’s investments in autonomy 

focus on developing systems that will facilitate performing complex military missions in dynamic environments with 

the right balance of warfighter involvement. Increased investment in autonomy will enhance joint warfighter capability 

in hazardous and degraded environments, heighten speed of action, and provide scalability beyond human capability. 

Autonomy is not a single-threaded R&D program, but rather a collection of smaller programs and demonstrations. 

The DoD is pursuing advanced technology development programs as well as several other efforts to conduct 

fundamental research. For example, the Automated Ground Resupply program also investigates improved operations 

of manned platforms through the application of a wide variety of sensing and autonomy technologies developed for 

unmanned systems. These include maneuver and tactical behavior algorithms, driver assistance techniques, autonomy 

kits, teleoperation, advanced navigation and planning, vehicle self-protection, local situational awareness, advanced 

perception, vehicle and pedestrian safety, active safety, and robotic command and control. 

The DoD has a wide-ranging effort to improve the sensors and networking technologies for autonomous platforms. This 

includes efforts in improving relative navigation through improvements in the GPS and inertial navigation systems driven 

by advances in quantum science. This also covers new approaches to active and passive sensing, such as improved Light 

Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and sensor arrays for better situational awareness.

In another example, the Combat Vehicle Robotics (CoVeR) program researches, designs, and develops technologies 

that enable scalable integration of multi-domain teamed robotic and automated system capabilities supporting Army 

combat formations. It also investigates, researches, and evaluates ground vehicle technologies for both military and 

commercial applications in collaboration with industry, universities, and other government agencies. The Research in 

Vehicle Mobility program is working to develop human cognitive models to represent behavioral dynamics to work sideby-side with control algorithms in a semi-automated robotic system engaged in extreme mobility scenarios, thereby 

replacing the need for real human-in-the-loop assessments.

The DoD aims to field a Joint Force architecture by 2030 that will fully integrate robotic and automated systems, 

supplementing and augmenting manned systems and forces in an attempt to counter threats from adversaries across 

multiple domains. However, humans must remain in the loop and play an oversight role, with the ability to activate or 

32 https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503641
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 13

deactivate system functions as necessary. The DoD is developing multiple vehicle demonstration programs in support 

of its 2030 Joint Force architecture goal and to improve DoD’s Non-Tactical Vehicle (NTV) mobility options. Examples 

include:

• High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Autonomy: This effort will develop a cost-effective upgrade to 

the existing HMMWV platform that will enable drive-by-wire control. Converting the vehicle controls from mechanical 

linkages to electronic actuation will enable connection to computers for autonomous operation, as well as to process, 

communicate, and store diagnostic/sensor data for use in localization and maintenance functions.

• Off Road Autonomy: This effort will look at several new techniques for executing off road autonomy built onto the 

current Army ground autonomy architecture. This effort focuses on developing new path planning and perception 

techniques with the intent of increasing reliability and performance for off-road unmanned maneuver systems for 

Robotics Combat Vehicle (RCV) and other platforms.

• Situational Awareness in Dynamic Environments: This research investigates and establishes the components 

required for embodied intelligent ground robotic systems to achieve understanding of dynamic, highly unstructured 

environment to support reasoning over time and space given multi-modal sensory input.

• NTV Automated Shuttle Pilot: Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) and Army Headquarters are sponsoring 

a 3-month automated non-tactical shuttle pilot on Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall. This industry-led pilot facilitates 

an opportunity for the Army's Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) to shadow the performers in 

order to create future automated shuttle programs on other military installations.

Department of Energy

The Energy Efficient Mobility Systems program at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is conducting fundamental 

research to understand the transportation “system level” impact from connected and automated vehicle technologies. 

DOE researchers are creating and using large-scale agent-based models to simulate current and future mobility 

technologies and services, including transportation network companies (TNCs), public transit systems, and other modes 

for transporting freight and people. These models will allow users to better understand the second and third order 

impacts from adding a technology like AVs (e.g., induced traffic congestion due to “empty” AV miles or new patterns for 

land use and development) or to compare the system-wide impacts of different technologies (e.g., traffic flow impacts of 

SAE Level 4 versus Level 5 automation33, congestion impacts of personally-owned AVs compared to fleet-owned mobility 

service AVs).

DOE is also using its unique High Performance Computing34 (HPC) and AI capabilities at the National Laboratories to 

develop methods to use AVs or connectivity to anticipate and reduce or prevent congestion. Projects are underway 

utilizing roadway and vehicle data from the Los Angeles and Chattanooga metropolitan areas. Although in its early 

stages, as more data from AVs becomes available and HPC capability increases, it will increasingly become possible to 

optimize traffic flow, and reduce costs.

DOE is also studying how to fundamentally extend computing capability, which will likely be needed to safely operate 

SAE Level 5 AVs in a real-world, consumer-acceptable package. Given the amount of computational capability necessary 

and the size, weight, and power constraints on a motor vehicle, dramatic improvements in the energy efficiency, 

performance, and cost of the underlying computer systems will be needed.

Because transportation accounts for nearly one-third of the energy used in the United States, technologies such as AVs, 

which could reduce energy use associated with driving, play valuable roles in America’s energy future. DOE’s role with 

33 https://www.sae.org/news/2019/01/sae-updates-j3016-automated-driving-graphic

34 https://www.energy.gov/science/initiatives/high-performance-computing
 14 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

respect to AVs is to develop technologies, tools, and insights that enhance the affordability, effectiveness, and energy 

efficiency of the overall transportation system. DOE leads the multi-agency 21st Century Truck Partnership35 (21CTP). 

This public/private partnership includes DoD, USDOT, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and DOE, along with 

industry partners. This non-funded research partnership focuses on pre-competitive information exchange across four 

technical focus areas: internal combustion engines, electrified powertrains, operational efficiency, and safety. AVs and 

related mobility technologies are key parts of 21CTP’s Freight Operational Efficiency and Safety technical teams. DOE also 

funds the SuperTruck II initiative36, a competitive funding opportunity initiated in FY 2016 aimed at developing innovative, 

cost-effective technologies that can double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks. Automation and connectivity are 

among the technologies being considered by the five teams selected for cost-shared financial assistance awards.

With respect to the development of AVs for personal use, the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) and the Advanced 

Research Projects Agency-Energy37 (ARPA-E) have made numerous cost-shared financial assistance awards focused on 

automated and connected vehicles and efficient mobility. VTO also had a recent Funding Opportunity Announcement 

(FOA) for mobility research (~$7 million) that included AV projects.38

ARPA-E’s NEXTCAR (Next-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Automated On-Road Vehicles) Program 

39provided approximately $32 million in FY 2016 for 11 projects to use connected and AV technologies to improve vehiclelevel fuel efficiency through improvements in vehicle dynamics and powertrain controls.

A 2019 DOE award will build on the progress of NEXTCAR by adapting a NEXTCAR AV algorithm for use in a SAE Level 4 AV. 

The project will also implement an infrastructure-based solution that offloads computing from the vehicles to roadside 

units for centralized perception processing at intersections that can be utilized by any connected vehicle. This project 

aims to reduce system-level energy consumption by 15%.

A second 2019 DOE financial assistance award will develop deep-learning algorithms for AVs that smooth mixed highway 

traffic (human-driven and automated vehicles) and reduce system-wide energy consumption by 10% through just 5% AV 

penetration. In 2018, DOE awarded over $26 million to 18 projects that will bring together key stakeholders in partnerships 

to provide data on the impact of mobility services and solutions through real-world testing (evaluation/assessment) and 

validation. The data, analysis, and insights from this work will fill critical information gaps to inform mobility research 

needs, as well as near- and long-term transportation planning that maximizes energy efficiency and affordability.

In 2018, DOE made $5 million in financial assistance awards to demonstrate the real-world application of Class 8 Truck 

Platooning to identify remaining roadblocks to practical application of commercial AV technology. The DoD U.S. Army 

Futures Command is a major participant in one of the projects. This builds on experimental work on which DOE and 

FHWA have collaborated for a number of years, proving the capability and energy savings from heavy truck platooning.

In 2017, VTO financial assistance awards funding to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), University of 

California–Riverside, and Clemson University to conduct research that evaluates energy savings benefits from connected 

and automated vehicles. The Clemson University project is developing anticipative and predictive AV control algorithms 

and building a novel vehicle-in-the-loop testbed to demonstrate energy savings of 10% AVs in traffic that includes both 

automated and human-driven vehicles.

35 https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/21st-century-truck-partnership

36 https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-137-million-investment-commercial-and-passenger-vehicle

37 https://arpa-e.energy.gov/

38 https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-59-million-and-43-projects-accelerate-advanced-vehicle-technologies-research

 https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/downloads/fiscal-year-2019-advanced-vehicle-technologies-research-selections

39 https://arpa-e.energy.gov/?q=arpa-e-programs/nextcar
The U.S. Government has funded various research projects 

on accessible transportation technologies. Recently, FHWA 

and NIDILRR has funded a project on ATTRI: Assessment of 

Relevant Research, which was conducted by The Robotics 

Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. This report highlights 

the potential That Automated Vehicles hold for travelers with 

disabilities. 

(For reference: https://www.ri.cmu.edu/wp-content/

uploads/2017/04/3_ATTRI_ARR_2017-04.pdf)

 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 15

Department of Health and Human Services

NIDILRR’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center 

on Physical Access and Transportation at Carnegie 

Mellon University is researching potential reference 

designs and vehicle interior concepts intended to 

promote and facilitate the accessibility of AVs for persons 

with disabilities. This center is also conducting R&D 

to generate new knowledge about how AVs can help 

address transportation barriers that are experienced by 

persons with disabilities in the first or last mile of a trip. 

NIDILRR’s Research Project on Optimizing Accessible 

Public Transportation, at the State University of New York–Buffalo, is generating new knowledge about innovative 

securement systems for wheelchair users in transit buses and paratransit vehicles. This project includes research into the 

ramifications of introducing automated securement systems for wheelchair users in automated transit vehicles. In order 

to provide community input into the R&D process, NIDILRR’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community 

Living Policy collected data from persons with disabilities and other critical stakeholders to inform recommendations 

for a future research and standards/architecture development effort for fully accessible and fully automated vehicles.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Strategic Plan, FYs 2019–2023, prioritizes research on 

the health effects of AVs for truck, bus, and taxi drivers. It also prioritizes research on injury risks associated with new jobs 

that may be created by automation and on potential stress and fatigue consequences of automation.

NIOSH is conducting simulator-based research that will lead to recommendations for the capabilities of automation 

sensors and driver-vehicle interfaces used in heavy trucks (for example, the minimum time required for sensors to issue 

a warning in time for the driver to safely re-assume control of the vehicle).

Department of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate conducts R&D on a range of 

technologies related to AVs, focusing on understanding their potential utility and vulnerabilities.40 Examples of DHS AV 

R&D include operating an AV test bed, spoofing protection for global navigation satellite systems, analytics for evaluating 

performance of ADAS, and using AI and machine learning for automated systems. 

Research examples include:

• DHS’s Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute (HSSEDI) is a Federally Funded Research 

and Development Center (FFRDC) in the process of developing an open-architecture platform to develop and 

evaluate AV technology. The purpose is to have an environment to demonstrate multi-agent autonomy, cybersecurity 

challenges, and communications architectures applicable to potential future networked, unmanned systems. This 

effort will develop the next generation of AV test bed.

• Since the need for resilient positioning, navigation, and timing will only increase with the advent of AVs, DHS’s HSSEDI 

FFRDC is studying methods of spoofing protection for global navigation satellite systems.

• Active safety and driver assistance systems can potentially save lives and avoid crashes, but usage and safety 

performance of the systems remains poorly understood. DHS’s HSSEDI FFRDC is researching analytics for evaluating 

performance of ADAS. 

40 https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/technology-foraging
CARMAsm is a research program designed to develop concepts 

for cooperative driving automation that address common 

traffic situations, and test and evaluate resulting applications. 

CARMAsm enables ADS to navigate more safely and efficiently 

with other vehicles and roadway infrastructure though 

communication and cooperation. CARMAsm aims to accelerate 

market readiness and the integration of cooperative 

automated driving systems, while advancing safety, security, 

data, and artificial intelligence. FHWA is conducting this 

work using open source software to encourage national and 

international collaboration and participation by a community 

of engineers and researchers in public, private and non-profit 

sectors. (Photo credit: FHWA)

(For reference: https://cms7.fhwa.dot.gov/research/researchprograms/operations/carma-overview)

 16 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

Department of Justice

DOJ’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) awarded $50,000 to Purdue University to identify vulnerabilities of AVs’ computer 

systems to cyber threats and to develop measures to counter those threats. NIJ also provided funding to RAND Corporation 

to host a workshop on AVs in July 2019 with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The workshop highlighted 

and explored specific public safety scenarios involving AVs that have been or will be faced by law enforcement, ranging 

from routine police interactions with specific individual vehicles (e.g., traffic stop, accident report) as well as small- or 

large-scale emergency situations that may require interaction with large numbers of vehicles at once (e.g., detours, 

evacuations).

Department of Transportation

Several USDOT modal administrations are conducting 

a wide array of research and demonstration projects 

related to surface transportation AVs. 

• FHWA is:

― Investigating different roadway/automated 

driving scenarios with a focus on the data 

and systems that will be needed to enable 

ADS to exchange data to successfully navigate 

challenging roadway scenarios. 

― Developing new modeling and simulation 

capabilities to analyze the impact of connected 

and automated vehicles (CAVs) on the highway 

system, including developing new traffic 

simulation algorithms that incorporate CAVs and 

conducting case studies to analyze impacts of CAV 

technologies on traffic flow and operations. 

― Pursuing an update of the Manual on Uniform 

Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The upcoming 

new edition will propose updated technical 

provisions to reflect advances in technologies and 

operational practices; incorporate recent trends 

and innovations; and set the stage for ADS as 

those continue to take shape. 

― Funding grants for through the annual $60 

million Advanced Transportation and Congestion 

Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) 

program.41 The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) established ATCMTD to make 

competitive grants for the development of model deployment sites for large scale installation and operation 

of advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, efficiency, system performance, and infrastructure 

return on investment. 

41 https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/factsheets/advtranscongmgmtfs.cfm
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 17

• FMCSA is:

― Conducting research to increase understanding of the human factors and address specific areas such as driver 

readiness, the human-machine interface (HMI), adaptation to advanced technologies, and communication with 

others outside the vehicle.

― Researching safety performance of critical items such as sensors, brakes, and tires in AV CMV operations, truck 

platooning, emergency response, and roadside inspections.

― Conducting research to ensure that the CMV industry is adequately equipped and able to prevent or respond to 

cyber threats.

• FTA is:

― Conducting research to assess both user acceptance and human factors design considerations for high-priority 

transit automation use cases involving passengers, bus operators, and other transit users to apply and conduct 

practical research in demonstrations and to identify and study potential customer acceptance issues associated 

with fully driverless operations due to perceived security issues or distrust of technology. 

― Developing non-binding guidance, based on earlier research results and demonstration findings, on Federal 

funding programs that may be relevant to transit automation investments. 

― Working to produce a practical reference guide for transit agencies covering key transition areas, such as vehicle 

maintenance; human factors, labor, and training issues; customer communications; maintaining consistency in 

the passenger experience; and transit service planning.

― Exploring the potential transferability of AV technologies and capabilities from light and commercial vehicles to 

bus transit.42

― Launching a series of seven demonstrations, organized by use case categories, in real-world transit environments 

as defined in the FTA Strategic Transit Automation Research (STAR) Plan.43 The demonstrations will create a testbed 

for study of technical issues, user acceptance, operational and maintenance costs, and institutional issues, and 

will further assess needs for standards development to ensure interoperability.

• NHTSA is:

― Researching unintended regulatory barriers. Historically, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) have 

been based on the concept of a human operating the vehicle. With the introduction of ADS, the driving tasks are 

increasingly shifted to the vehicle. The absence of a human driver creates opportunities for vehicle manufacturers 

to design new vehicle architectures that may remove driving controls, change seating configurations, and 

establishing new interfaces for occupants. 

― NHTSA has published non-binding guidance to support the automotive industry and other key stakeholders as 

they consider and design best practices for the testing and safe integration of Automated Driving Systems, along 

with technical assistance to States and Best Practices for Legislatures.44

― Researching alternative metrics and safety assessment models. This research will identify the methods, metrics, 

and tools to assess how well the ADS perform at a system level to avoid crashes including system performance and 

behavior relative to the system’s ODD and stated Object and Event Detection and Response (OEDR) capabilities. 

Research will be conducted to explore the functional performance and safety benefits of ADS implementations. 

Research also will be performed to study the feasibility and methods to assess normal driving capabilities of 

an ADS. The dynamic driving tasks (previously undertaken by the human driver) as behavioral competencies 

42 Transferability of Automation Technologies https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/research-innovation/118161/transit-busautomation-project-transferability-automation-technologies-final-report-fta-report-no.pdf

43 https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/research-innovation/114661/strategic-transit-automation-research-report-no-0116_0.pdf

44 https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/us-dot-releases-new-automated-driving-systems-guidance
 18 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

or maneuvers that can be measured and tested much in the way a human driver is evaluated to ensure driving 

competency.

― Researching functional safety and ADS subsystems. The safe operation and reliable performance of ADS are 

critical to public acceptance and successful integration of future ADS. As the dynamic driving tasks are transferred 

from the human driver to the ADS, human sensing and cognition functions are essentially being relegated to the 

machine through a collection of integrated hardware and software subsystems. Accordingly, methods and tools 

are necessary to assess the functional safety of ADS subsystems and their building block components.

― Researching occupant protection45 in alternative vehicle designs. Vehicle crash mechanics and occupant restraint 

systems are not directly affected by vehicle automation. However, occupant behavior and the enhanced sensor 

systems will affect priorities for a vehicle’s safety in the event of a crash.

― Researching human factors for ADS Vehicles, for example, vehicles that are designed in a manner where it can 

be operated by both a driver and an ADS (e.g., dual-mode), involving control handoff between drivers and ADS 

in certain circumstances. A driver’s readiness to resume control in SAE Level 3 ADS is critical to safety. Driver 

engagement with the ADS is influenced by several issues, including the human-machine interface, the driver’s 

experience and training with the system, and other situation-specific factors that affect behavioral responses. 

― Researching accessibility considerations in ADS vehicles. ADS vehicles are expected to provide mobility options not 

previously afforded to persons with disabilities, regardless of cognitive, physical, or even the degree of condition. 

Research has been initiated to explore the information needs of persons with disabilities and how these needs 

could be implemented effectively within a HMI. 

― Conducting cybersecurity research to promote a layered approach to cybersecurity by focusing on a vehicle’s 

entry points, both wireless and wired, which could be potentially vulnerable to a cyber-attack. A layered approach 

to vehicle cybersecurity reduces the possibility of a successful vehicle cyber-attack, and mitigates the potential 

consequences of a successful intrusion. NHTSA has published non-binding guidance to the automotive industry 

for improving motor vehicle cybersecurity,46 which it is currently working on updating.

• Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) announced:

― $60 million in Federal grant funding for a competitive grant program that awarded 8 recipients for ADS 

demonstrations. 47

― A planned Inclusive Design Challenge48, which will make up to $5 million in cash prizes available to innovators who 

design solutions to enable accessible automated vehicles. USDOT aims to increase availability and decrease cost 

of aftermarket modifiers that improve accessibility of vehicles today and spark development for future automated 

vehicles.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

While the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) mission relates to space and aviation, in service 

of that mission NASA is developing and maturing a broad range of technologies that are also relevant to surface AVs. 

These technologies are primarily described by the “Robotics and Autonomous Systems” Technology Roadmap.49 NASA’s 

investment in this area includes work in sensing and perception, mobility, manipulation, human-system integration, 

system-level autonomy, autonomous rendezvous and docking, and systems engineering. Autonomy (both system- and 

45 https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/crashworthiness

46 NHTSA, Cybersecurity Best Practices for Modern Vehicles. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/sae2017chatipoglu_0.pdf

47 https://www.transportation.gov/av/grants

48 https://www.transportation.gov/accessibility

49 For the full text, see https://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps
NASA develops and deploys a wide range of operator interfaces to remotely monitor and supervise space robots, including planetary 

rovers that drive autonomously in uncertain environments. These interfaces, such as the NASA open-source “Visual Environment 

for Remote and Virtual Exploration (VERVE)”, are used to visualize robot sensor data, telemetry, and remote environments as well as 

to interactively handle contingencies and exceptions. Numerous AV companies are currently developing similar systems to support 

monitoring and supervision of AV services (delivery, taxi, etc.).

(For reference: https://software.nasa.gov/software/ARC-16457-1A, https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20140013445)

 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 19

subsystem-level), cognition, and machine learning are integral parts that span all sub-areas, including object, event, and 

activity recognition; robot navigation; dexterous manipulation; intent recognition and reaction; and rendezvous and 

docking.

NASA develops and deploys a wide range of operator interfaces to remotely monitor and supervise space robots, including 

planetary rovers that drive autonomously in uncertain environments. These interfaces, such as the NASA open-source 

"Visual Environment for Remote and Virtual Exploration (VERVE)”, are used to visualize robot sensor data, telemetry, 

and remote environments as well as to interactively handle contingencies and exceptions. Numerous AV companies are 

currently developing similar systems to support monitoring and supervision of AV services (delivery, taxi, etc.).

NASA’s technology investments (including internal projects and external awards) can be tracked and analyzed using 

TechPort, a web-based, publicly available, software system that serves as NASA’s integrated technology data source.50

Research products are archived in NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), which provides access to scientific and technical 

information (STI) created or funded by NASA including conference papers, journal articles, meeting papers, patents, 

research reports, images, movies, and technical videos.51 Technologies with foreseeable application beyond aviation, 

50 For the full text, see https://techport.nasa.gov

51 https://ntrs.nasa.gov/
 20 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

space, and planetary exploration include development of higher resolution 3D range imaging sensors allowing an AV 

to perceive the surrounding landscape, map-based position estimation for navigation by surface vehicles, natural and 

human-made object recognition algorithms, improved routing and optimization techniques, and adaptive autonomous 

surface navigation systems.

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports the development of AVs, as well as analysis of the potential benefits 

and challenges of their introduction into the current transportation system through a variety of programs, primarily in 

the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE); Engineering (ENG); and Social, Behavioral, and Economic 

Sciences (SBE) Directorates. 

NSF funds basic research in the three broad categories of sensing, reasoning, and acting.

• Basic research in sensing may include improved computer vision, radar, LIDAR, mapping, and other sensing 

modalities, as well as sensor fusion. 

• Basic research in reasoning may include real-time machine learning, perception and localization, safety guarantees 

for control in uncertain environments, and multi-objective optimization under constraints. 

• Basic research in action may include ensuring the safety of the AV occupants as well as other road users—bicyclists 

and pedestrians, trajectory and path planning, vehicle dynamics, model-predictive control, and blended control. 

In addition, NSF funds basic research and workshops to address communication issues between AVs, social issues 

surrounding the adoption of AVs, and a future transportation system that incorporates surface AVs. As part of NSF’s 

broad portfolio of basic research in communications, infrastructure, and human factors, NSF funds basic research and 

workshops in:

• Communications including spectrum research for V2V and V2I communication, 

• Security of AV systems

• How human responses to sharing roads with AVs can help to foster trust in automated technology.

• The relationship between user privacy and the architecture of AV sharing services.

• How the emergence of automated trucks affects the trucking workforce and the U.S. economy.

• How repurposing time currently taken up by driving can enhance economic productivity and worker wellbeing

U.S. Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) operates the largest civil agency fleet of vehicles in the country with well over 200,000 

vehicles. The use of AVs offers an opportunity for USPS to improve operational efficiency and enhance the safety of postal 

workers and the public. USPS’s use of advanced technology to improve efficiency is part of the charter that recreated the 

organization in the early 1970s. USPS is conducting three AV demonstration programs:

• Automated Rural Delivery Vehicle (Zippy) Program:52 The program created a prototype in conjunction with the 

University of Michigan to identify current capabilities and value of AVs.

• Request for Information (RFI) for Autonomous Vehicle Capability:53 USPS issued an RFI on an advanced automated 

delivery vehicle program to produce a mail delivery vehicle for improved productivity and to evaluate current AV 

capabilities and individual sensor technologies. The USPS received numerous responses and is developing programs 

to pursue targeted research on automated technology for its vehicles. In addition to the research projects, USPS 

52 https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2017/RARC-WP-18-001.pdf

53 https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USPS/SSP/PhPMSC/RFI-USPS-AVC/listing.html
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 21

will be exploring partnerships with industry leaders to leverage its vast fleet that drives to every door, every day at 

typically low speeds to deliver the Nation’s mail. 

• Automated Semi-Truck: This is an automated tractor-trailer proof of concept program operating (with safety engineer 

and driver present) on defined routes between major distribution centers in the southwest United States. USPS 

recently completed a pilot program that included five round trips between Dallas, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona. All of 

the automated trips were either on time or early to the respective facilities.

Security and Cybersecurity

Security and cybersecurity are critical for the development of a transportation system that safely and effectively incorporates 

AVs. High degrees of connectivity and automation increase the need to protect vehicle control systems and secure sensitive 

information. In addition, most AV manufacturers have indicated that their vehicles will use electric motors and therefore 

will need to be plugged into the grid and connected through charging equipment. In consideration of potential increases 

to the critical technologies for both vehicles and the wider critical infrastructure, the U.S. Government is dedicated to 

providing a secure AV environment. 

Department of Energy

DOE has deep cybersecurity expertise through its national laboratories. Vehicle-related cybersecurity research to date 

has focused on plug-in electric vehicles and the interconnections between vehicles, charging equipment, buildings, 

and the grid. However, a more holistic vehicle cyber threat assessment, including AVs, is being undertaken by Sandia 

National Laboratory to understand whether additional research is needed.

Department of Homeland Security

The DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also has deep cybersecurity expertise and leads the 

national effort to defend critical infrastructure against today’s threats, while working with partners across all levels of 

government and in the private sector to secure against the evolving risks of tomorrow. CISA's integrated operations center 

provides 24x7 cyber situational awareness, analysis, incident response, and cyber defense capabilities to the Federal 

Government; State, local, tribal and territorial governments; the private sector, and international partners. CISA provides 

cybersecurity tools, incident response services, and assessment capabilities to safeguard the networks that support the 

essential operations of Federal civilian departments and agencies. CISA coordinates security and resilience efforts using 

trusted partnerships across the private and public sectors and delivers training, technical assistance, and assessments 

to Federal stakeholders as well as to infrastructure owners and operators nationwide. CISA provides consolidated allhazards risk analysis for U.S. critical infrastructure through the National Risk Management Center (NRMC).

Department of Justice

DOJ focuses on enforcing Federal law, ensuring public safety, and protecting national security. DOJ’s security and 

cybersecurity interests in AV integration into our transportation system include:

• Enforcing the Law in Cyberspace: The computer systems involved in operating and communicating with AVs make 

the vehicles potential targets of domestic or international criminals. DOJ investigates and prosecutes criminal 

exploitation of computer systems and works with interagency, State and local, and international partners to mitigate 

public safety and national security threats in cyberspace. In that regard, it is important to DOJ and its law enforcement 

partners that AV computer systems employ adequate cybersecurity measures to combat criminal exploitation by 

cybercriminals. It is also imperative that the data in those systems necessary to investigate crime be accessible to law 

enforcement officials, upon appropriate authorization.
 22 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

• Supply Chain Security: To mitigate supply chain risks to sensitive technologies, such as AVs, posed by foreign 

adversaries, DOJ—as well as NHTSA—evaluates proposed foreign acquisitions of U.S. businesses through the 

Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

• Research and Development of Best Practices for Law Enforcement: Within DOJ, NIJ is the lead Federal agency in 

researching the application of technology to and for criminal justice purposes. NIJ not only funds research related to 

the impact of AVs on law enforcement, but also seeks to evaluate and disseminate best practices for protecting officer 

safety from any threats posed by AVs. Additionally, NIJ engages with State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement 

partners to identify their operational requirements relating to AVs and interacts with developers, manufacturers, and 

vendors of law enforcement technology to address those requirements.

• Federal Law Enforcement Use of Automated Vehicles: In the future, law enforcement agencies within DOJ may seek 

to leverage AV technology to increase their law enforcement capabilities while improving officer safety, potentially 

reducing costs, and ensuring the protection of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

Department of Transportation

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act54 provides NHTSA with broad authority over motor vehicle and motor 

vehicle equipment. Congress created this broad authority for the purpose of reducing traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries 

resulting from traffic crashes.55 Three key components of NHTSA’s authority are its ability to develop and establish safety 

standards, to enforce the prohibition against covered parties making inoperative aspects of vehicles or motor vehicle 

equipment installed in compliance with a safety standard, and to take action to protect the public against noncompliance 

and defects that pose unreasonable risks to motor vehicle safety. NHTSA’s broad authority allows the agency to remain 

nimble and responsive in the face of ever-changing technological advances, including those related to cybersecurity. 

While “data security” and “privacy” are important considerations within the context of vehicles and cybersecurity, 

the specific possibility of software vulnerabilities and other threats or risks potentially causing a crash or safety 

degradation to motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment is the primary concern for NHTSA. NHTSA has established 

a Vehicle Cybersecurity Response Process for Incidents Involving Safety-Critical Systems. During a significant incident, 

coordination will be handled through DHS’s National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center (NCCIC), with 

NHTSA having an information/advisory role and performing its statutory responsibility under the Safety Act.

While cybersecurity is a critical issue for NHTSA, the emphasis for addressing cybersecurity ultimately must be with the 

industry, which must be the primary mover and leader in this field. The agency has taken several other concrete steps 

to prepare for the eventuality of an automotive cyber incident that affects safety. In order to encourage industry to face 

this emerging issue, NHTSA has issued non-binding best practices.56 Also, in 2015, the Industry formed the Automotive 

Information Sharing and Analysis Center57 (Auto-ISAC) as an industry led clearinghouse to share cybersecurity information. 

The Auto-ISAC is one of the few ISACs formed prior to a sector incident. In July 2016, the Auto ISAC published its own set 

of best practices to the public.

While general consumer privacy is an important secondary concern for NHTSA, the agency works with Federal Trade 

Commission (FTC), which has primary jurisdiction over privacy issues not related to motor vehicle safety.

54 (49 U.S.C. chapter 301) (“Safety Act”)

55 49 U.S.C. § 30101

56 NHTSA, Cybersecurity Best Practices for Modern Vehicles. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/sae2017chatipoglu_0.pdf

57 https://www.automotiveisac.com/
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 23

National Institute of Standards and Technology

The NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence58 (NCCoE) conducts research to accelerate the deployment and 

use of secure, standards-based risk management solutions. NCCoE is a collaborative hub where industry organizations, 

government agencies, and academic institutions work together to address businesses’ most pressing cybersecurity 

issues. It is the responsibility of AV developers, vehicle manufacturers, parts suppliers, and all stakeholders who support 

transportation to follow best practices, and industry standards, for managing cyber risks in the design, integration, 

testing, and deployment of AV. The Federal Government will promote the NIST Cybersecurity Framework—already a de 

facto common measure for cybersecurity in industry—for AV stakeholders. 59

NIST’s draft publication for Core Cybersecurity Feature Baseline for Securable Internet of Things (IoT) Devices: A Starting 

Point for IoT Device Manufacturers60 is intended to help IoT device manufacturers understand the cybersecurity risks 

their customers face. Many IoT devices are the result of the convergence of cloud computing, mobile computing, 

embedded systems, big data, low-price hardware, and other technological advances. IoT devices can provide computing 

functionality, data storage, and network connectivity for equipment that previously lacked them, enabling new 

efficiencies and technological capabilities for the equipment, such as remote access for monitoring, configuration, and 

troubleshooting.61 The draft NIST publication defines a core baseline of cybersecurity features that any manufacturers may 

voluntarily adopt for IoT devices they produce, and also provides information on how they can identify and implement 

the features most appropriate for their customers. This publication can be used as a resource by AV innovators to better 

understand cybersecurity risks to their customers and provides a core baseline of cybersecurity features that can be used 

for potential IoT devices embedded in AVs.

National Security Council

The National Security Council62 team, with the departments and agencies, enables the President to plan and execute 

integrated national security strategies to protect American citizens and the homeland while prioritizing national 

interests and values. These national security strategies are informed by the National Security Strategy (2017)63 and 

its four pillars: (1) Protect the American people, the homeland, and the American way of life; (2) Promote American 

prosperity; (3) Preserve peace through strength; and (4) Advance American influence. The U.S. Government will prioritize 

the transportation sector as one of seven sectors to prioritize cyber risk-reduction activities. The U.S. Government will 

prioritize emerging technologies critical to economic growth and security, such as AV technologies. The U.S. Government 

will also promote and protect its National Security Innovation Base, defined as the American network of knowledge, 

capabilities, and people that turns ideas into innovations, transforms discoveries into successful commercial products 

and companies, and protects and enhances the American way of life.

58 National Institute of Standards and Technology. National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. https://www.nccoe.nist.gov/

59 NIST Cybersecurity Framework. https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework

60 NIST 8259 draft publication for Core Cybersecurity Feature Baseline for Securable Internet of Things (IoT) Devices: A Starting Point for IoT Device 

Manufacturers. https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2019/NIST.IR.8259-draft.pdf

61 NISTIR 8228 Considerations for Managing Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity and Privacy Risks. Page IV. https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2019/

NIST.IR.8228.pdf

62 https://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/

63 National Security Strategy of the United States of America. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905.pdf
 24 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

Infrastructure

Across the U.S. Government, many agencies are invested in diverse infrastructure R&D that will allow for American 

entrepreneurship and innovation. This research explores both utilizing current infrastructure and exploring new 

infrastructure to maximize the potential of AVs.

Department of Energy

DOE’s national laboratories have access to the world’s fastest HPC facilities, as well as expertise in AI and big data 

analytics. DOE has developed high-performance computing infrastructure for modeling and simulating AV software for 

perception, planning, and control. DOE’s work in this area related to automation falls into two main areas: (1) efforts 

to optimize transportation systems to reduce congestion and improve throughput, and (2) developing improved AI or 

computing needed for AVs.

As an application of this computing infrastructure, Oak Ridge National Lab is working closely with a vehicle manufacturer 

to use advanced AI software (e.g., Multi-node Evolutionary Neural Networks for Deep Learning—MENNDL)64 to reduce the 

development time and improve the performance of AV software for perception, planning, and control.

The DOE System Modeling for Accelerated Research in Transportation65 (SMART Mobility) national laboratory consortium 

was created in 2016 to produce new knowledge, insights, and understanding about the future of mobility. The consortium 

is developing modeling and simulation tools that scale from the vehicle/traveler level to the city/regional level, and 

incorporates new and emerging mobility technologies and services. These modeling efforts include estimates of land use 

changes and charging infrastructure demand using UrbanSimw and EVI-Pro through an iterative closed-loop simulation 

with regional agent-based models (POLARIS and BEAM). The agent-based models provide information on travel time, 

cost, distance, and other factors by travel mode and time-of-day that are then utilized to simulate future population 

shifts, employment, market penetration of electric vehicles, and electric vehicle charging demand.

The research community, local governments and transportation planners, and other Federal agencies can use the 

tools to understand the outcomes of future mobility scenarios in terms of energy consumption, affordability, time and 

convenience, and access to opportunities. The first phase of SMART Mobility will be completed at the end of FY 2019 with 

a comprehensive set of modeling and simulation tools that, in combination, can fully model current and potential future 

states of a large metropolitan area. A broad range of new mobility technologies and services, including different levels 

and effectiveness of automation, will be included.

Department of Transportation

FHWA is responsible for providing stewardship over the construction, maintenance, and preservation of the Nation’s 

highways, bridges, and tunnels. Through research66 and technical assistance, the FHWA supports its partners in Federal, 

State, and local agencies to accelerate innovation and improve safety and mobility. FHWA facilitates uniformity in traffic 

control devices through its MUTCD. 

As of early 2019, there are 89 connected vehicle deployments67 that are either planned or deployed around the country, 

and the number is growing rapidly. Based in part on the insights afforded by FHWA’s National Dialogue, FHWA will 

64 https://www.ornl.gov/division/csmd/projects/multi-node-evolutionary-neural-networks-deep-learning-menndl

65 https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/energy-efficient-mobility-systems

66 https://highways.dot.gov/research/research-and-development/research-programs

67 Map of Connected Vehicle (CV) Deployments in the U.S. https://www.transportation.gov//sites/dot.gov/files/docs/research-and-technology/345996/

cv-deployment-locationsusamapnodetails-2.pdf
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 25

facilitate the development of a national roadway automation integration readiness strategy. The strategy will define a 

flexible framework for coordinated planning among State and local transportation agencies, and with ADS developers.

FHWA—in partnership with FMCSA—awarded contracts to three teams to develop detailed proposals for a field test 

of truck platoons. The field tests will collect technical and operational data related to the vehicles, environment, and 

drivers to assess safety, efficiency, and mobility impacts of truck platoons on the transportation system. In addition, 

FHWA is conducting research to better understand the impacts truck platoons may have on roadway infrastructure, e.g., 

pavement and bridges.

FHWA—in coordination with the ITS JPO—is supporting a Work Zone Data Exchange68 (WZDx) initiative for AVs. Accurate 

and up-to-date information about dynamic conditions occurring on the roads—such as work zones—can help AVs 

navigate safely and efficiently. The WZDx initiative seeks to set the foundation for development of other data set that will 

facilitate AV integration in to our Nation’s roadway systems.

Spectrum and Connectivity

As AVs become more prevalent on American roads, access to spectrum cooperation and connectivity may become 

increasingly important. Therefore, the U.S. Government will focus on the use and management on this important spectrum. 

Department of Energy

DOE-sponsored research has shown that in addition to safety benefits, connectivity can be a significant enabler to 

reducing congestion on our roadways. Congestion increases fuel consumption and comes at a significant economic 

cost to businesses, causing delays for consumers, increasing emissions, and contributing to fatalities and injuries. 

Connectivity also enables vehicles to drive more efficiently in a range of settings—including on freeways, arterial roads, 

when merging, and at intersections—saving significant amounts of fuel/energy. These benefits require complementary 

technologies such as vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity that has very high bandwidth and low 

latency.

Department of Homeland Security

In July 2019, DHS’s CISA released a risk and resilience note providing an overview of risks introduced by 5G adoption in 

the United States.69 It highlights a number of risk management mitigations including ensuring robust security capabilities 

for 5G applications and services.

Department of Transportation

USDOT is collaborating with public and private partners, including State and local governments, vehicle and device 

manufacturers, and academia, to advance connected vehicle development and implementation. ITS JPO is working 

with modal administrations within USDOT to coordinate and foster the advancement of connected vehicle technologies. 

Significant progress has already been made in testing connected vehicle technologies and applications in real-world 

situations. USDOT’s Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot Program70 provided large amounts of valuable data on how these 

technologies, applications, and systems perform in the hands of everyday drivers. USDOT strongly supports preserving 

the ability for transportation safety applications to function in the 5.9GHz Safety Band.71

68 https://github.com/usdot-jpo-ode/jpo-wzdx/blob/master/README.md

69 https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0731_cisa_5th-generation-mobile-networks-overview.pdf

70 https://www.its.dot.gov/pilots/pilots_overview.htm

71 https://www.transportation.gov/content/safety-band
 26 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and Information Administration

The FCC is the United States’ primary authority for communications law, regulation, and technological innovation and is 

responsible for management of the electromagnetic spectrum (i.e., the radio airwaves) that is vital to nearly all facets of 

the modern economy.

The FCC works with colleagues in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the 

Department of Commerce (DOC), on spectrum matters affecting Federal Government users. NTIA is the executive branch 

agency that is principally responsible for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. 

NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband internet access and adoption in America, 

expanding the use of spectrum by all users, and ensuring that the internet remains an engine for continued innovation 

and economic growth.

Many of the technologies central to enabling vehicle function, added-value features, and driver comfort require spectrum 

access to function. These include, for example, radars and the transmission of data from cameras used for safety and 

driver assistance features; GPS for navigation; toll tags, tire pressure monitors, garage door openers, and key fobs that 

aid and augment the driving experience; stolen vehicle recovery systems that help locate and recover vehicles; and 

radios (satellite and terrestrial) and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connections that provide entertainment and in-cabin connectivity. 

Today’s vehicles incorporate or make use of a wide range and increasing number of spectrum-dependent technologies. 

They must have the capability to integrate a multitude of services and devices to operate most effectively and provide 

the functions and features that drivers want. Areas where the FCC has seen particular interest include radar technologies 

(such as those in the 76-81 GHz band that is reserved for vehicular applications), vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-toinfrastructure communications protocols and increasingly widespread network connectivity that will be enabled by 

ubiquitous terrestrial 5G systems. Through its general spectrum management policies and rules, the FCC creates an 

environment that permits the development and deployment of communications technologies, including those used in 

vehicles, while leaving it to innovators to create and integrate those technologies. 

The FCC focuses primarily on preventing harmful interference between competing uses while relying on flexible rules that 

enable innovative devices and services to develop and deploy. This core principle is well suited to the fast-moving world 

of AV technologies. We expect that developers of technologies and applications will draw increasingly on the different 

spectrum authorization mechanisms that the FCC offers—whether through use of various frequencies that are assigned 

to specific users through licensing or for use by the general public without a specific license, or a combination of both. 

The FCC will continue efforts to ensure that its policies promote the type of modern approach to spectrum management 

that affords maximum flexibility to all innovators—including those who are working to advance AVs in the United States. 

NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) staff monitor C-V2X and 5G communications technology 

specifications development activities through observation at 3GPP Working Group meetings and plenary sessions at 

international or domestic settings to identify how each input might affect transportation. This includes the identification 

of significant shifts to specifications that arise due to technology innovations that come through the working groups. The 

5G use cases 3GPP is targeting are focused on remote driving, automated driving, sensing, and platooning.

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NIST, part of the Department of Commerce, advances industrial competitiveness by furthering measurement science, 

standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve quality of life. The National Advanced 

Spectrum and Communications Test Network (NASCTN) is a multi-agency partnership headquartered at and led by NIST 

that organizes a national network of Federal, academic, and commercial test facilities to provide testing, modeling, 

and analysis necessary to develop and deploy spectrum-sharing technologies and inform future spectrum policy and 
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 27

regulations. NASCTN's mission is to provide robust test processes and validated measurement data necessary to increase 

access to the spectrum by both Federal agencies and non-Federal spectrum users. 

NIST also conducts metrology research related to AVs, including the development of measurement techniques, test 

protocols, calibration services, modeling and simulation techniques that will help with predicting and testing certain 

connectivity aspects, such as signal propagation, wireless co-existence, and antenna performance as well as minimize 

radio interference in crowded airwaves. These tools are critical for reliable communications among connected vehicles, 

roadway infrastructure, and central control centers, and thus generate confidence in the safety of connected vehicles.

Economics and Workforce Research

Complementary to the U.S. Government’s role in advancing AV innovation and technology, the DOC, HHS, DOL, and 

USDOT are collaborating in support of research on the Impact of Automated Vehicle Technologies on (Professional Drivers) 

Workforce.72

DOL’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is currently conducting a literature review that summarizes and synthesizes economic 

theory on the interaction between labor and capital in the workplace and how this is affected by new technologies such as 

automation, digitization, and AI. This review will be the basis for developing a comprehensive list of constructs that need 

to be measured to allow researchers to determine the effect of these new technologies on the workforce. 

FTA is researching economics and workforce considerations associated with AVs, including:

• Analyzing labor and workforce-related considerations with transit bus automation for non-driving tasks of bus 

operations (e.g., management of bus yard operations).

• Researching the availability and costs of automation-related systems and products with an emphasis on the U.S. 

domestic bus market.

• Developing methods and tools that transit agencies can use to assess the business case for investing in bus automation.

• Studying the potential impacts of automation-related changes to transit service patterns, such as an increase in pointto-point service using smaller vehicles.

B. U.S. Government Enabling Activities in the Automated Vehicle Sector

The U.S. Government is actively pursuing a range of regulatory and non-regulatory activities that will enable the 

adoption of AVs, with the overall goal to facilitate the safe and full integration of AV technologies into the national surface 

transportation system. Integration would help realize the great potential AV technologies have for enhancing public safety, 

making systems more efficient, and facilitating economic vitality.

Fostering Collaboration with Government

Outreach to Non-Federal Stakeholders

The Federal Government uses the Federal Register73 to make it easier for citizens and communities to understand the 

regulatory process and to participate in Government decision-making. Many Federal agencies are also reaching out 

to stakeholders in State, local, tribal and territorial governments, in industry, and elsewhere as part of the activities 

described above. These outreach activities are often conducted in collaboration with multiple Federal entities. 

72 https://www.transportation.gov/av/workforce

73 https://www.federalregister.gov/
 28 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

For example, through a series of listening sessions and online dialogues, most co-hosted with USDOT, the DOL’s Office 

of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has engaged Federal agencies, academic researchers, original equipment 

manufacturers (OEMs), TNCs, State legislators, and disability advocates in a conversation about the role of the Federal 

Government in ensuring that AVs will be accessible to persons with mobility, sensory, and cognitive disabilities once 

deployed. The data from these events and meetings will be used in the development of Federal and State policy 

recommendations.

DOE’s SMART Mobility Lab Consortium has convened an external Executive Advisory Board of 12 prominent experts in 

a broad range of sectors impacting AVs, including manufacturing, transit, delivery, mobility, regulatory, technology, 

academia, and non-governmental organizations. The board advises the SMART Consortium, providing feedback on the 

Consortium’s research portfolio, advising on industry needs and trends, and making recommendations for improving 

the quality, relevance, and impact of the SMART Mobility Consortium’s research and development.

USDOT has lead numerous public events and published various public notices on the topic of AV to ensure the widest 

possible outreach to non-Federal stakeholders. These public events74 and public notices75 are compiled at an USDOT AV 

central webpage. 76

USDOT has supported industry efforts to ensure public access to accurate and clear information about ADAS and ADS 

can encourage their safe use and adoption. In July 2019, USDOT brought together a diverse group of stakeholders77 to 

discuss current issues around communication, terminology, and language regarding AVs and how it influences consumer 

perception of AV technologies. Additionally, during the Automated Vehicle Symposium, also in July 2019, a panel 

discussion was held on Steps Towards Putting the Public Safety Community at Ease with Advanced Vehicle Technologies.

78

Cities and local communities manage much of the transportation system within which AVs will operate. They have been 

asking how they should prepare for this new technology. EPA and DOE have been engaging with these communities 

to understand their needs and develop tools and information they can use to help consider potential environmental 

impacts of increasing AV operation. 

The FTC and NHTSA co-hosted a public workshop in 201779 to explore privacy and security issues related to AVs. FTC staff 

issued a paper summarizing the important themes from the panelist discussions during the full-day workshop. 

NIST hosted a workshop on Consensus Safety Measurement Methodologies for ADS-Equipped Vehicles80 in June 2019 

in collaboration with USDOT. This workshop’s objectives was to identify and develop criteria that should be satisfied 

for any approach to automated vehicle decision-making safety, to review existing or proposed methodologies for 

the establishing safety requirements and safety measurement approaches, to identify gaps and key challenges, and 

to explore opportunities for progress, including identifying alternative methodologies that should be considered. The 

workshop report81 can be found through NIST Special Publication 1900-320.

74 https://www.transportation.gov/av/events

75 https://www.transportation.gov/av/publicnotices

76 https://www.transportation.gov/AV

77 www.transportation.gov/av/communications

78 AVS 2019: Steps Toward Putting Public Safety Community at Ease with Advanced Vehicle Technologies, https://youtu.be/oeh6u7JqgrY

79 https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/connected-cars-workshop-federal-trade-commission-staff-perspective/staff_perspective_

connected_cars_0.pdf

80 https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events/2019/06/consensus-safety-measurement-methodologies-ads-equipped-vehicles

81 https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.1900-320.pdf
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 29

Trans-Federal Coordination

In addition to working with non-Federal stakeholders, several agencies lead activities intended to foster interagency 

coordination and the development of unified Federal approaches to AVs. For example, The General Services 

Administration’s (GSA) Office of Government Policy promotes interagency collaboration through various committees 

and councils, including the Federal Fleet Policy Council82 (FEDFLEET). FEDFLEET provides a mechanism for coordinating 

Federal vehicle management programs and policies, and analyzing the impact of current and proposed regulations, 

laws, Executive orders, and international agreements. It is composed of representatives of Federal agencies that operate 

Federal motor vehicle fleets.

Voluntary Consensus Standards and Other Guidance

The U.S. Government will promote voluntary consensus standards as a mechanism to encourage increased investment 

and bring cost-effective innovation to the market more quickly. Voluntary consensus standards can be validated by testing 

protocols, are supported by private-sector conformity assessment schemes, and offer flexibility and responsiveness to 

the rapid pace of innovation. Furthermore, many SDOs utilize existing processes that allow industry participation in the 

development of voluntary consensus standards. 

Department of Health and Human Services

In other voluntary standards-setting efforts, NIOSH served on the subcommittee convened by the American Society of 

Safety Professionals (ASSP) and National Safety Council, which developed the American National Standards Institute 

(ANSI)/ASSP Z15.3 technical report, Management Practices for the Safe Operation of Partially and Fully Automated Motor 

Vehicles.

83 The report is intended to help organizations develop policies, procedures, and management processes to 

control risks associated with the operation of AVs.

Department of Homeland Security

In another Federal collaboration, in March 2019, DHS’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authored six vehicle 

cybersecurity threat scenarios for inclusion in USDOT’s Volpe Center’s upcoming “Government Fleet Manager’s Guide 

to Medium and Heavy Truck Cybersecurity Best Practices” that have applicability to AVs. CBP also collaborates with 

USDOT through its participation in the Government Cybersecurity Vehicle Steering Committee and the Commercial 

Truck Cybersecurity Working Group.

Department of Transportation

In 2017, NHTSA provided voluntary guidance through Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety (ADS 2.0). ADS 

2.084 revised and streamlined to emphasize the voluntary nature of the guidelines–no compliance requirement or 

enforcement mechanism. ADS 2.0 focuses on the New Operating Guidance on SAE Level 3 and above Automated Driving 

Systems. Additionally, ADS 2.0 clarifies that assessments are not subject to Federal approval and that there is no waiting 

period or delay to begin testing or deployment. Furthermore, it revises priority safety elements, focusing on 12 aspects 

that are ready for implementation in the near term. Elements involving privacy, ethical considerations, registration, and 

the sharing of data beyond crash data remain important and are areas for further discussion and research.

82 https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/policy/vehicle-management-policy/-councils/federal-fleet-policy-council-fedfleet-enrollment

83 https://www.assp.org/news-and-articles/2019/06/25/automated-vehicles-addressing-challenges-and-opportunities

84 https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/13069a-ads2.0_090617_v9a_tag.pdf
 30 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

In 2018, USDOT presented further voluntary guidance for AV development across all surface modes through Preparing 

for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0 (AV 3.0).85 AV 3.0—developed with input from a diverse set of 

stakeholder engagements throughout the Nation—builds upon ADS 2.0, further expanding the scope to all surface onroad transportation systems. AV 3.0 is structured around three key areas: 1) Advancing multi-modal safety, 2) Reducing 

policy uncertainty, and 3) Outlining a process for working with USDOT.

USDOT’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center and NCCoE collaborated with three Connected Vehicle (CV) 

Pilots (Wyoming, New York, and Florida) and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) to 

develop the CV Pilot Cybersecurity Framework Profile and conduct a privacy risk analysis. This included applying the 

NIST Privacy Risk Assessment Methodology (PRAM) to UMTRI’s Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment (AACVTE) 

research implementation. This research resulted in a Cybersecurity Framework Profile in 2018.86

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

NIST supports the development and use of measurement science in voluntary consensus standards, conformity 

assessment, and related tools. This work is enabling the development, deployment and assurance of ADS. NIST’s 

Cyber-Physical Systems Program is developing methods for measuring AV trustworthiness (safety, security, resilience, 

reliability, and privacy) to support performance measurements for ADS. The goal is to enhance existing methods for 

validating vehicle trustworthiness—for example to support new modeling and simulation capabilities in ADS-equipped 

vehicles.

Regulatory Authority and Automated Vehicles

Department of Transportation

USDOT’s modal administrations regulate aspects of AVs. For more details, please refer to the Safety, and Security and 

Cybersecurity sections, above.

General Services Administration

The GSA develops Federal motor vehicle management regulations, issues guidance on Federal fleet operations, and 

provides reports on the Federal fleet, which was estimated as 644,545 non-tactical vehicles in FY2018.87 Federal regulations 

on fleet management include requirements regarding agencies’ acquisition, use, and disposal of motor vehicles, and 

cover home-to-work transportation, among other requirements. The GSA Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP) also 

issues guidance to help agencies manage their motor vehicle fleets effectively. Guidance includes bulletins on various 

aspects of fleet management, including fleet management information systems, and methodologies for determining the 

optimal fleet size for agency fleets. GSA OGP will consider guidance for how to integrate AVs into Federal fleets.

Office of Management and Budget

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)88 is a Federal office established by Congress within the Office 

of Management and Budget (OMB), which is an agency within the Executive Office of the President. OIRA reviews draft 

proposed and final regulations under Executive Order 12866 from Federal agencies, including USDOT. OIRA also reviews 

Federal agencies’ collections of information from the public under the Paperwork Reduction Act, and develops and 

85 https://www.transportation.gov/av/3

86 https://www.its.dot.gov/presentations/trb2018/TRB_NIST_CSF_Project.pdf

87 https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/policy/vehicle-management-policy/federal-fleet-report

88 https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-regulatory-affairs/
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 31

oversees the implementation of government-wide policies in the areas of information policy, privacy, and statistical and 

science policy.

Taxation, Trade, and Intellectual Property

Tax Incentives for AV Research

To ensure American leadership and growth in AV technology, the U.S. Government offers attractive tax incentives for AV 

innovators and entrepreneurs to conduct AV R&D in the United States.

Department of the Treasury

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) promote innovation in the AV industry through 

publication of administrative rules and other guidance on current Federal income tax law incentives. Taxpayers can 

immediately expense the cost of research and developmental activities that are experimental in nature with the purpose 

of eliminating uncertainty when developing or improving a product. Qualifying activities may include developing a 

patent and inventing technologies to improve the fuel efficiency of AVs or to enhance driver experiences with AVs. A 

Federal income tax credit of up to 20% of the eligible spending for research and developmental activities is also available. 

Taxpayers may also immediately expense the cost of qualified business property purchased after September 27, 2017 

and before January 1, 2023. Additionally, AV innovators can immediately expense the cost of purchasing new or used 

manufacturing equipment, the AVs they operate or lease, and computer hardware and software. Understanding that 

AV companies may have more operating expenses than revenues in their early years of business, the tax code allows 

the carryover of net operating losses to offset 80% of taxable income generated in future years. The indefinite carryover 

of net operating losses to future years ensures the benefit of the operating expenses will be utilized when a company 

generates profits. Taxpayers may immediately expense start-up and organizational costs of up to $5,000 (for each 

category) in the year the business begins operations. The $5,000 deduction is reduced by the amount of the start-up or 

organizational costs that exceeds $50,000; the remainder of the costs may be deducted over a 180-month period. The 

start-up costs include any amounts paid in connection with creating an active trade or business or investigating the 

creation or acquisition of an active trade or business. Organizational costs include the cost of creating a corporation or 

partnership.

Tax incentives are available to promote domestic manufacturing for export, including AVs. U.S. corporations have a 

reduced U.S. Federal income tax rate through a 37.5% deduction for their directly earned foreign-derived intangible 

income (FDII) for the 2018 through 2025 tax years (reduced to 21.875% thereafter). The FDII deduction is akin to an 

Innovation Box tax regime designed to incentivize American corporations to maintain U.S.-based operations and 

intangibles while exporting more goods and services to foreign markets. The FDII deduction is provided for all exportrelated income in excess of a fixed return on tangible assets to incentivize all U.S. export-based operations. An “interest 

charge domestic international sales corporation” (IC-DISC) can be utilized to eliminate the Federal corporate income tax 

on foreign sales of tangible goods that are manufactured or produced in the United States. The earnings from the IC-DISC 

are taxed only when they are distributed to its shareholders, and usually at a 20% tax rate for qualified dividends. Unlike 

the FDII deduction, the IC-DISC rules require a substantial amount of U.S. activity in manufacturing or producing the sold 

good, and thus this regime specifically incentivizes U.S. production for export.

Trade Promotion Related to AVs

The U.S. Government will ensure American AV innovators have fair access to foreign markets. The U.S. Government 

will seek rules, both at home and abroad, that are as performance-based and non-prescriptive as possible and do not 

discriminate against U.S. technologies, products, or services. 
 32 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

Department of State

With respect to international trade promotion for AVs, the mission of the Department of State’s Bureau of Economic 

and Business Affairs is to advance America’s prosperity and other national interests by supporting American business 

overseas; fostering good governance through economic transparency, accountability and sustainability; and fostering 

inclusive economic growth and prosperity. The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs is the Department’s lead 

bureau on economic engagement, international trade, transportation and telecommunications policy, and commercial 

advocacy.

Department of Transportation

The USDOT’s Office of International Transportation and Trade provides departmental leadership on international 

multimodal transportation and trade policies and initiatives, including technical assistance and cooperation programs, 

as well as trade facilitation and advocacy activities. The office provides the Secretary of Transportation with information 

and analysis to aid in developing international transportation policy and other international responsibilities. 

These include exchanging technical information with foreign counterparts, facilitating open and liberalized global 

transportation markets, reducing technical barriers to trade in the transportation sector and resolving market access 

issues created by other countries’ standards and regulations. The office also represents the Department in global 

transportation organizations and trade fora. It conducts in-depth analysis and provides policy recommendations to 

address emerging and ongoing international transportation issues, and in consultation with the Department’s operating 

administrations, it also develops the Department’s positions on the negotiation or implementation of international 

trade agreement provisions affecting transport.

International Trade Administration

The International Trade Administration (ITA) within the United States Department of Commerce promotes United States 

exports of nonagricultural U.S. services and goods. ITA is working with U.S. regulators and industry to collaborate 

with foreign partners while the technology is still being developed to attain convergent technical specifications and 

requirements that enable trade and continued U.S. exports because regulatory divergence acts to unnecessarily raise 

costs while also restricting road vehicle trade. ITA has found that it is much easier to achieve convergent standards and 

regulations if work begins prior to their initial development to bridge differences prior to investments being made. ITA 

can also work with smaller technology developers to both find foreign buyers and to help protect intellectual property.

Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy

The Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (OTMP) was created by Executive order within the Executive Office of the 

President (EOP) in 2017.89 One of OTMP’s primary roles is to support the ability of the United States to manufacture 

products, particularly technologically advanced products such as AVs, domestically. This can be done through a variety 

of policy options, including trade policies and government procurement programs (such as “Buy American” preference 

programs). OTMP has a particular focus on the nexus of economic and national security issues, and works closely with 

the DoD and other agencies on defense procurement policies, which may include purchase commitments and loan 

guarantees for production capabilities with critical defense implications.

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative90 (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international 

trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing trade negotiations with other countries. USTR’s role 

89 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-establishment-office-trade-manufacturing-policy/

90 https://ustr.gov/
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 33

in transportation automation is to engage with trading partners as appropriate to pursue fair and reciprocal market 

access abroad for U.S.-developed and U.S.-manufactured transportation automation-related technologies, vehicles, 

and services. This includes protecting U.S. transportation automation-related intellectual property internationally and 

working with trading partners to shape regulatory environments abroad so that they do not discriminate against U.S. 

technologies, products, or services.

Intellectual Property Protection

The U.S. Government will continue to promote sensitive emerging technologies through the protection and enforcement 

of intellectual property rights—patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets—technical data, and sensitive 

proprietary communications and will continue to work to prevent other nations from gaining unfair advantage at the 

expense of American innovators.

Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator

The Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC)91 in the Executive Office of the President 

coordinates and develops policy and strategy to promote innovation and creativity, and ensures effective intellectual 

property protection and enforcement, domestically and abroad, with respect to all forms of intellectual property. As is 

the case for other critical technologies, AV technology will rely heavily on intellectual property in the form of patents, 

trade secrets, copyrighted software, and trademarked goods. For the United States to successfully adopt this technology, 

the intellectual property of American innovators—and the safety of the American public—will both need to be protected. 

In this regard, establishing and maintaining secure supply chains for AV technologies will be essential for protecting 

safety, security, and intellectual property.

Department of Justice

DOJ, through the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) in its Criminal Division, as well as through 

its National Security Division, executes national strategies in combating intellectual property crimes—including those 

involving AV technology—worldwide. DOJ attorneys prevent, investigate, and prosecute intellectual crimes by working 

with other government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and foreign counterparts. These attorneys 

work to improve the domestic and international infrastructure (legal, technological, and operational) to pursue 

criminals most effectively. They also regularly run complex investigations, resolve unique legal and investigative issues 

raised by emerging computer and telecommunications technologies; litigate cases; provide litigation support to other 

prosecutors; train Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel; comment on and propose legislation; and initiate 

and participate in international efforts to combat computer and intellectual property crime.

United States Patent and Trademark Office

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the Federal agency responsible for issuing patents and 

registering trademarks.92 The agency’s mission is to foster innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth, 

domestically and abroad. It does this through a three-pronged approach: 

• delivering high quality and timely examinations of patent and trademark applications; 

• guiding domestic and international intellectual property policy; and 

• delivering IP information and education worldwide. 

91 https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/office-u-s-intellectual-property-enforcement-coordinator-ipec/

92 USPTO provides access to patent and trademark information through its searchable databases, which along with other useful information may be 

found at: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/inventors-entrepreneurs-resources. To facilitate searching patent documents, they are 

indexed or classified into classes and subclasses. For automated vehicles, the most relevant international classifications are: B60W, B60T, G01S, G05D, 

and G08G.
 34 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

Innovators and entrepreneurs in the AV field should be aware of USPTO, as securing a patent, trademark, or both serves 

not only to afford them important legal rights, but also to help preserve the United States’ technological edge, which 

is key to our current and future competitiveness in AV technologies. In particular, a patent grants a property right to an 

inventor providing the exclusive right to exclude others from “making, using, offering for sale, or selling” an invention 

in the United States, or for importing a patent-protected invention into the United States. Generally, patent rights for 

an invention will last for a term of 20 years from the date on which the application was filed in the United States. A 

trademark is a word, name, symbol, or device that is used in trade in goods to indicate the source of the goods and to 

distinguish them from the goods of others. Trademark rights may be used to prevent others from using a confusingly 

similar mark, but not to prevent others from making the same goods or from selling the same goods or services under a 

clearly different mark. Trademarks that are used in interstate or foreign commerce may be registered with USPTO. U.S. 

patents and trademarks are open to applicants around the world, and provide the aforementioned rights within the 

borders of the United States.

Environmental Quality

The U.S. Government will focus on opportunities to improve transportation system-level efficiency, while avoiding negative 

transportation system-level environmental impacts from AV technologies.

Council on Environmental Quality

Council on Environment Quality (CEQ)93 was created by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and is a Federal 

agency located within the Executive Office of the President. CEQ oversees NEPA implementation through regulations 

and guidance. The development and implementation of AV-related technology and infrastructure may require Federal 

permits or other authorizations that would trigger a NEPA analysis. CEQ would support Federal agencies as they 

undertake the NEPA process for AV-related projects.

CEQ also houses the Office of Federal Sustainability94 (OFS), which coordinates policy across the Federal Government 

to promote energy and environmental sustainability in Federal operations. OFS implements Executive Order 13834 

which directs Federal agencies to manage their operations to optimize energy and environmental performance, reduce 

waste, and cuts costs, which includes vehicles. In order to meet statutory requirements for petroleum reductions and 

optimize efficiency, some agencies have decided to implement telematics as well as EV infrastructure to manage their 

fleets. The development and implementation of AV-related technology and infrastructure would require consideration 

of the existing use of telematics and electric vehicles in the Federal fleet to ensure coordination and interoperability. 

OFS assists Federal agencies that decide to use AV technology to meet their statutory requirements related to vehicles 

in a manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, and protects the 

environment.

Environmental Protection Agency

As the Federal Government’s lead regulator for clean air and other environmental programs, EPA is charged with developing 

rules and policies to ensure its public health goals are met. All vehicles offered for sale in the U.S., for example, must 

receive an EPA certificate of conformity before introduction to the market. Automobile manufacturers must demonstrate 

compliance with environmental regulations over a wide range of operating conditions and test procedures. 

93 https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/

94 https://www.sustainability.gov/
 U.S. Government Activities and Opportunities for Collaboration — 35

The introduction of ADS technologies could modify how these vehicles operate under these test conditions requiring 

updates in testing to provide a complete environmental profile. EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory 

has begun to monitor, measure, and assess ADS and ADAS vehicle technology improvements and innovations, so that 

policy actions targeted toward ADS and ADAS performance that impact fuel economy (as regulated by NHTSA), energy 

consumption, tailpipe emissions, and vehicle activity profiles account for and have the latest, best technical information 

available. 

EPA provides the Federal Government’s official measured testing for tailpipe emission, fuel economy, and consumer 

information. As AVs come to market those tests must accurately account for ADS and ADAS, which may mean developing 

and employing special test methods. As appropriate, EPA will update vehicle testing regulations to address unique AV 

operational considerations that may arise. As data become known, EPA will also incorporate into vehicle performance 

models and policy tools the benefits (reductions) or dis-benefits (increases) in emissions and energy consumption 

associated with ADS and ADAS performance on auto-emissions compliance requirements.

Competition, Privacy, and Market Transparency

The U.S. Government will ensure the security of data and the public’s privacy as AV technologies are designed and 

integrated. The U.S. Government will enforce existing laws to ensure entities do not make deceptive claims or mislead the 

public about AVs technologies or publicly traded AV technology companies.

Department of Justice

The DOJ is the executive branch agency charged with promoting and protecting competition for the benefit of American 

consumers. DOJ enforces the antitrust laws so that markets for innovative technologies, such as those related to AVs, are 

dynamic, competitive, and free of collusion. For example, DOJ is charged with prosecuting criminal antitrust conduct, 

such as price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation agreements that have no economic benefit and harm competition 

and innovation in dynamic markets. In addition, DOJ interacts with industry, including as to the role of antitrust 

enforcement to promote innovation in the standard-setting context, emphasizing open, balanced, and competitive 

processes. Free market competition enabled by the DOJ’s enforcement will support innovation and consumer welfare in 

emerging markets for automated vehicles.

Federal Trade Commission

The FTC is the Nation’s principal consumer protection agency. The FTC enforces Section 5 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 

45, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. In the AV context, the FTC could, for 

example, use its Section 5 authority to take action against a company that makes deceptive claims about the performance 

capabilities or limitations of AVs or their component systems. The FTC could also use its Section 5 authority to take action 

against a company that makes deceptive claims with respect to consumer data that is collected, used, or maintained in 

connection with automated or connected vehicles or that has inadequate privacy or security practices. The FTC uses 

a variety of measures—such as policy initiatives, including issuing reports or holding workshops, and consumer and 

business education efforts—to protect consumers.

Securities and Exchange Commission

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) mission is to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient 

markets, and facilitate capital formation. The laws and rules that govern the securities industry in the United States derive 

from a simple and straightforward concept: all investors, whether large institutions or private individuals, should have 

access to certain basic facts about an investment prior to buying it, and so long as they hold it. To achieve this, the SEC 

requires public companies (e.g., publicly traded AV technology companies) to disclose meaningful financial and other 
 36 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

information to the public. This provides a common pool of knowledge for all investors to use to judge for themselves 

whether to buy, sell, or hold a particular security. Only through the steady flow of timely, comprehensive, and accurate 

information can people make sound investment decisions. The SEC oversees the key participants in the securities world, 

including securities exchanges, securities brokers and dealers, investment advisors, and mutual funds. Here the SEC is 

concerned primarily with promoting the disclosure of important market-related information, maintaining fair dealing, 

and protecting against fraud. Crucial to the SEC's effectiveness in each of these areas is its enforcement authority. Typical 

infractions SEC may pursue include insider trading, accounting fraud, and providing false or misleading information 

about securities and the companies that issue them.

C. U.S. Government Resources for Automated Vehicle Sector Innovators

The role of the U.S. Government is to create an environment in which innovators can iterate new technologies to meet 

market needs. As such, the U.S. Government has resources available to support AV innovators.

Federal Laboratories Test Beds and Technology Transfer

Leveraging the Federal Government’s investments in R&D for societal benefit necessarily involves the transfer of technologies 

created with Federal money to the open market. The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) is a 

nationwide network of over 300 Federal laboratories, agencies, and research centers that fosters commercialization best 

practice strategies and opportunities for accelerating Federal technologies from out of the laboratories and into the 

marketplace.95 The FLC’s mission is to promote, educate, and facilitate Federal technology transfer (T2) among its member 

laboratories and institutions so they can reach their commercialization goals, and create social and economic impacts 

with new innovative technologies. One of the FLC’s growing service initiatives is the Technology Focus Area (TFA) program. 

TFA provides an annual spotlight on a specific technology that addresses a public need and supports Federal laboratories’ 

research and technology transfer missions as well as government-wide economic development goals. The TFA for 

Automated Systems (AS) program is designed to facilitate commercialization activity by cultivating valuable connections 

between Federal laboratories and innovators. Through the TFA AS program, the FLC provides innovators with a dedicated 

online platform for identifying relevant AS Federal laboratory technologies, intellectual property, programs, and expertise. 

The program serves as a pathway of introduction for innovators to access the Federal resources and contacts they need to 

establish T2 relationships and agreements for accelerating their R&D.

Small Business Administration Resources

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses. It provides access to 

capital through an array of financing mechanisms, free counseling and low-cost training for both new entrepreneurs and 

established small businesses, facilitates access to contracts with Federal agencies and departments, and advocates on 

behalf of small businesses with government policy makers. SBA offers detailed guides for planning, launching, managing, 

and growing a business96 as well as District Offices that can provide assistance focused on particular local conditions.97

SBA provides policy guidance and leadership for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business 

Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs,98 coordinating across 11 Federal agencies and departments to help innovative 

95 https://www.federallabs.org/flcbusiness

96 https://www.sba.gov/business-guide

97 https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance

98 http://www.sbir.gov
Conclusion — 37

small businesses meet Federal R&D needs and commercialize those innovations. SBA assists small businesses interested 

in pursuing SBIR/STTR opportunities across the Federal Government through outreach, training resources, and by helping 

entrepreneurs connect to local resources.

SBA offers a wide variety of courses designed to help entrepreneurs research, plan, and turn ideas into businesses.99 Training 

includes the Emerging Leaders Initiative, an intensive program that provides free entrepreneurship education and training 

for executives of small, poised-for-growth companies that are potential job creators in America’s underserved cities.100

The NSF I-CorpsTM program prepares scientists and engineers to extend their focus beyond the university laboratory and 

accelerates the economic and societal benefits of NSF-funded, basic-research projects that are ready to move toward 

commercialization.

United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Inventor and Entrepreneur Resources

USPTO maintains a website101 linking to resources related to protecting intellectual property (IP) and ensuring innovators 

understand how and when to register their IP. Information on the IP lifecycle as well as legal resources are available to 

enable innovators to best protect their efforts.

USAspending.gov

USAspending.gov102 is the official source for spending data for the U.S. Government. Its mission is to show the American 

public what the U.S. Government spends every year and how it spends the money. You can follow the money from the 

congressional appropriations to the Federal agencies and down to local communities and businesses. AV innovators and 

entrepreneurs could use this as a resource to identify potential U.S. Government funding opportunities. 

Additional U.S. Government Resources 

A list of all other known U.S. Government AV relevant resources available to AV innovators and entrepreneurs can be 

found in Appendix A. If AV innovators and entrepreneurs have questions directed at specific components inside the U.S. 

Government, a contact list can be found in Appendix B.

IV. Conclusion 

The White House OSTP encourages a future in which the United States is a global leader in AV technology. The U.S. 

Government offers AV innovators and entrepreneurs an ideal environment to develop and integrate AV technology 

while prioritizing safety, security, and privacy for users and communities; promoting efficient markets; and facilitating 

coordinated research efforts nationwide. In preparation for emerging and innovative AV technology, the U.S. Government 

will provide policies, guidance, and best practices; conduct appropriate research and pilot programs; and offer necessary 

assistance to help plan for and invest in a dynamic and flexible future for all Americans. 

99 https://www.sba.gov/learning-center

100 https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/organization/sba-initiatives#section-header-14

101 USPTO Inventor and entrepreneur resources, https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/inventors-entrepreneurs-resources

102 https://www.usaspending.gov/#/
 38 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

V. Appendix A – U.S. Government Resources 

Council on Environmental Quality

• Office of Federal Sustainability: https://www.sustainability.gov/resources.html

Department of Agriculture

• National Robotics Initiative 2.0: Ubiquitous Collaboration Robots (NRI-2.0): https://nifa.usda.gov/fundingopportunity/national-robotics-initiative-realization-co-robots-acting-direct-support

Department of Energy

• Vehicle Technologies Office: https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/vehicle-technologies-office

• Vehicle Technologies Office Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluations: https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/

annual-merit-review-presentations

• Vehicle Technologies Office reports and publications: https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/reports-and-publication

s?TechArea=Energy+Efficient+Mobility+Systems

• DOE’s Technology Commercialization Fund: https://www.energy.gov/technologytransitions/services/technologycommercialization-fund

― Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) is a nearly $20 million funding opportunity that leverages R&D funding 

in the Department’s applied energy programs to mature promising energy technologies with the potential for high 

impact. TCF was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and catalyzes the commercial impact of the Department’s 

portfolio of research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities. TCF funds are matched with funds 

from private partners to promote promising energy technologies for commercial purposes.

Department of Defense

• Defense Technical Information Center: https://discover.dtic.mil/products-services/

Department of Health and Human Services

• NIOSH Center for Motor Vehicle Safety Strategic Plan for Research and Prevention, 2014-2018: https://www.cdc.gov/

niosh/docs/2014-122/pdfs/2014-122.pdf (note: An updated plan is under development and will be posted on the NIOSH 

docket for public comment.)

• NIOSH Strategic Plan: FYs 2019−2023 prioritizes research on the safety impacts of automated and connected vehicles 

and ADAS for truck, bus, and taxi drivers. In addition, the NIOSH plan prioritizes research on injury risks associated with 

new jobs that may be created by automation, and on potential stress and fatigue consequences of automation. (See 

Intermediate Goals 6.14 and 7.8.) https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/about/strategicplan/

• NIDILRR’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Physical Access and Transportation: https://acl.gov/sites/

default/files/about-acl/2019-01/NIDILRR%20LRP-2018-2023-Final.pdf

• NIDILRR’s research Project on Optimizing Accessible Public Transportation: https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/aboutacl/2019-01/NIDILRR%20LRP-2018-2023-Final.pdf

Department of Homeland Security

• DHS Science and Technology Directorate 

― Critical Infrastructure and Resilience: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/critical-infrastructure-andresilience#

― Cybersecurity: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/cybersecurity

• DHS CISA, Cyber Storm: Securing Cyber Space

― https://www.dhs.gov/cisa/cyber-storm-securing-cyber-space
Appendix A – U.S. Government Resources — 39

Department of Labor

― Office of Disability Employment Policy: https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/Transportation.htm

Department of Transportation

• Access and Mobility for All Summit: https://www.transportation.gov/accessibility

• Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) Strategic Plan 2019-2022: https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.

dot.gov/files/docs/regulations-and-guidance/ccam/about/134436/ccam-strategic-plan-2019-2022.pdf

• Mobility for All Pilot Program Grants: https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/grant-programs/mobility-all-pilotprogram-grants

• USDOT Automated Vehicles Activities: https://www.transportation.gov/AV

• USDOT Research HUB 2.0: https://researchhub.bts.gov/

• USDOT Repository & Open Science Access Portal: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/welcome

• USDOT/BTS National Transportation Library: https://ntl.bts.gov/

• USDOT/FTA Transit Automation Activities: https://www.transit.dot.gov/automation-research

Federal Communication Commission

• FCC Reports & Research: https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research

• Office of Engineering and Technology (OET): https://www.fcc.gov/engineering-technology

• Wireless Telecommunications Bureau: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless-telecommunications

• Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Service: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobilitydivision/dedicated-short-range-communications-dsrc-service

Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer

• FLC Business: https://www.federallabs.org/flcbusiness

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

• NASA TechPort: https://techport.nasa.gov/home

• NTRS: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/

National Council on Disability

• Self-Driving Cars: Mapping Access to a Technology Revolution: https://www.ncd.gov/sites/default/files/NCD_

AutomatedVehiclesReport_508-PDF.pdf

National Institute of Standards and Technology

• Cyber-Physical System: https://www.nist.gov/el/cyber-physical-systems

• Mobility Performance of Robotics Systems: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/mobility-performance-roboticsystems

• Communication Technology research: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/5g-beyond

• National Advanced Spectrum and Communication Test Network: https://www.nist.gov/communications-technologylaboratory/nasctn

• Applied Research – Cybersecurity and Privacy in Connected vehicles: https://www.nccoe.nist.gov/

• NIST Cybersecurity Framework: https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework

• NIST Privacy Framework: https://www.nist.gov/privacy-framework

• U.S. Leadership in AI: A Plan for Federal Engagement in Developing Technical Standards and Related Tools. https://

www.nist.gov/document/report-plan-federal-engagement-developing-technical-standards-and-related-tools
 40 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

• An Independent Measurement System for Testing Automotive Crash Warning Systems: http://ws680.nist.gov/

publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=901038

• Objective Test and Performance Measurement of Automotive Crash Warning Systems: http://ws680.nist.gov/

publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=823603

• Performance Evaluation of Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety System: http://ws680.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.

cfm?pub_id=823587

• NIST Work in Support of Army Research Labs and DARPA Autonomous Vehicles for Military Operations (e.g., scouting)

― 4D/RCS Version 2.0: A Reference Model Architecture for Unmanned Vehicle Systems: http://ws680.nist.gov/

publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=821823

― Intelligent Vehicle Systems: A 4D RCS Approach https://books.google.com/books/about/Intelligent_Vehicle_

Systems.html?id=A84mXxcNjlwC

• NIST Work in Support of DARPA Mobile Autonomous Robots (MARS) and follow-on Programs to develop the 

foundations for a robotic chauffeur type of capability:

― Identifying Sensory Processing Requirements for an On-Road Driving Application of 4D/RCS https://www.nist.gov/

node/683826

― How task analysis can be used to derive and organize the knowledge for the control of AVs https://www.nist.gov/

node/705571

― Achieving Intelligent Performance in Autonomous Driving: https://www.nist.gov/node/705951

― PRIDE: A Framework for Performance Evaluation of Intelligent Vehicles in Dynamic, On-Road Environments: https://

www.nist.gov/node/761331

• Framework for Defining and Measuring Autonomy Levels (Autonomy Levels for Unmanned Systems):

― Autonomy Levels for Unmanned Systems (ALFUS) Framework Volume II: Framework Models Initial Version http://

ws680.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=823618

National Science Foundation

• NSF Award Search: https://nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearch.jsp

• NSF Public Access Repository (NSF-PAR): https://par.nsf.gov/

National Transportation Safety Board

• Completed Investigations:

― Collision Between a Car Operating with Automated Vehicle Control Systems and a Tractor-Semitrailer Truck Near 

Williston, Florida - May 7, 2016, https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1702.aspx

― Low-Speed Collision Between Truck-Tractor and Autonomous Shuttle, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 8, 2017, https://

www.ntsb.gov/investigations/pages/HWY18FH001.aspx

― Collision Between Vehicle Controlled by Developmental Automated Driving System and Pedestrian , Tempe, Arizona, 

March 18, 2018, https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR1903.pdf

• Ongoing Investigations:

― Rear-End Collision Between a Passenger Car Operating with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and a Stationary 

Fire Truck, Culver City, California, January 22, 2018, https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/pages/HWY18FH004.aspx

― Passenger Car Operating with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Collided with Roadway Barrier, Mountain View, 

California, March 23, 2018, https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/pages/HWY18FH011.aspx

― Collision Between a Passenger Car Operating with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Combination Vehicle at 

an Intersection, Delray Beach, Florida, March 1, 2019, https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/pages/HWY19FH008.aspx
Appendix A – U.S. Government Resources — 41

• Significant recommendations:

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-17-037

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-17-038

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-17-039

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-17-040

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-17-041

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-17-042

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-17-043

• Recommendations for collision avoidance systems:

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-004

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-005

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-006

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-007

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-008

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-009

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-18-008

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-18-019

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-18-029

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-18-043

― https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-18-044

United States Patent and Trademark Office

• USPTO patent search database: https://www.uspto.gov/patents-application-process/search-patents

• USPTO Inventor and entrepreneur resources: https://uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/inventors-entrepreneursresources

• USPTO Inventors Assistance Center: 800-786-9199; 517-272-1000; TTY: 800-877-8339

United States Access Board

• https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/transportation
 42 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

VI. Appendix B – U.S. Government AV Contacts 

Organization Email

DHS STMCSTasking@hq.dhs.gov

DoD osd.pentagon.ousd.r-e.mbx.autonomy@mail.mil

DOE EEMS@ee.doe.gov

DOI feedback@ios.doi.gov

DOJ automated.vehicles@usdoj.gov

EPA OTAQ@epa.gov

FLC support@FederalLabs.org

GSA Vehicle.Policy@gsa.gov

NASA Autonomous-Vehicles@mail.nasa.gov

NCD ncd@ncd.gov

NIST inquiry@nist.gov

NSF info@nsf.gov

NTSB Correspondence@ntsb.gov

United States Access Board info@access-board.gov

USDA askUSDA@usda.gov

USDOT

automation@dot.gov

TransitAutomation@dot.gov

av_info_nhtsa@dot.gov

USPS vehicletechnology@usps.gov

USPTO HelpAAU@uspto.gov
Appendix C – Automated Vehicle Fast Track Action Committee — 43

VII. Appendix C – Automated Vehicle Fast Track Action 

Committee 

Chair 

Michael Kratsios

United States Chief Technology Officer 

Members

Sujeesh Kurup Sudarsana Kurup 

EOP/OSTP Liaison

Vishal Amin

EOP/IPEC

Brooks Bentley

EOP/NSC

Michael Berube

DOE

Mark Champoux

DOJ

David Connolly

EOP/OMB

Karin Ferriter

DOC/USPTO

Finch Fulton

USDOT

Chazeman Jackson

HHS

Douglas Kinkoph

DOC/NTIA

Julius Knapp

FCC

Tom McDermott

DHS

Bart Meroney

DOC/ITA

Jon Montgomery

NASA

Wayne Nickols

DoD

James Olthoff

DOC/NIST

Andrew Smith

FTC 
 44 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

VIII. Appendix D – Development and Writing Team 

Department of 

Commerce

National Institutes of Standards and 

Technology

Heather Evans

Chris Greer

Ajit Jillavenkatesa

Tim McBride 

Elena Messina 

Al Wavering

National Telecommunications 

and Information Administration

Charles Cooper

Derek Khlopin

Douglas Kinkoph

United States Patent and Trade 

Mark Office

Karin Ferriter

Christian Hannon

Molly Stech

International Trade 

Administration

Elizabeth Clark

Anne Driscoll 

Scott Kennedy 

Bart Meroney

Dale Tasharski

Andy Parris 

Holly Vineyard

Department of 

Education

Jean Morrow

Department of Energy

David Anderson

Michael Berube

Erin Boyd

Heather Croteau

Prasad Gupte

Rachael Nealer

Department of Defense

Brandon Newell

Wayne Nickols

Department of Health 

and Human Services

Dawn Castillo

Hongwei Hsiao

Chazeman Jackson

Jennifer E. Lincoln

Stephanie Pratt

William (Karl) Sieber

Department of 

Homeland Security

Mark Fleming

Christian Van Ginder

Jonathan Murphy

Ted Sobel

Peter W. Tortorell, Jr. 

Jeremiah B. Wells

Department of Justice

Mike Buchwald

Mark Champoux

Makan Delrahim

Jennifer Dixton

Brendan Groves

Daniel Haar

Aarash A. Haghighat 

Chris Hardee

Joseph Heaps

Lionel Kennedy

David Knight

David Lawrence

David Mudd

Brian H. Pandya

Kimberley Raleigh

Sujit Raman

William Rinner

Colin T. Ross

Steven Schuetz

Anthony M. Shults

Mick Stawasz

Joy Welan

Department of Labor

Kristen Monaco

Michael Reardon

Lindsey Teel

Nathan Uldricks

Kim Vitelli

Department of State

Vanessa Guest

Megan Walklet-Tighe

Department of 

Transportation

National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration 

Sara Bennett

Jonathan Morrison

Dorothy Jo (Dee) Williams

Federal Highway Administration

Carl Andersen

Valerie Briggs

Brian Cronin

John Harding 

Taylor Lochrane

Heather Rose

Dale Thompson
Appendix D – Development and Writing Team — 45

Federal Transit Administration

Danyell Diggs 

Justin John

Steve Mortensen

Gwo-Wei Torng

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

Jeff Loftus

Nicole Michelle

Jonathan Mueller 

Kelly Regal

Office of the Secretary of 

Transportation

Julie Abraham

John Augustine

Nicole Baker

Lily Ballengee

Ted Boll

David Carter

Tony Choi

Trish Fritz

Finch Fulton

Diana Furchtgott-Roth

Ariel Gold

Timothy Mullins

Steve Polzin

Sujeesh Kurup Sudarsana Kurup

Department of the 

Treasury

Wendy Friese

David Kautter

Krishna Vallabhaneni

James Wang

Environmental Protection 

Agency

Alexander Dominguez

Matt Brusstar

David Haugen

Karl Simon

Federal Communications 

Commission

Paul Jackson 

Ira Keltz 

Julius Knapp

Paul Murray

Aspasia Paroutsas

Jamison Prime

Ronald E. Williams

Federal Laboratory 

Consortium for 

Technology Transfer

John Dement

Kevin Barquinero

Denise Wainer

Federal Trade 

Commission

Mark Eichorn

Peder Magee

Maneesha Mithal

Andrew Smith

General Services 

Administration

Alexander Kurien

Patrick McConnell

Jim Vogelsinger

National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

B. Danette Allen

Terrence Fong

National Council on 

Disability

Rebecca Cokley

Joan Durocher

Lisa Grubb

Geraldine-Drake Hawkins

Robyn Powell

Neil Romano

Jeff Rosen

Anne Sommers

Clyde Terry

National Science 

Foundation

Dawn Marie Tilbury

Lloyd Whitman

National Transportation 

Safety Board

Steve Blackistone 

Joseph Schmoll

Christopher Wallace

Small Business 

Administration

Jennifer Shieh 

John R. Williams

Securities and Exchange 

Commission

Jessica Leonardo

Holli Heiles Pandol

United States Access 

Board

Juliet Shoultz

Scott Windley

United States Department 

of Agriculture

Michael Buser

Richard Derksen 

Steven Thomson

United States Postal 

Service

Scott R. Bombaugh

Don E. Crone

Rod Sallay
 46 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

IX. Appendix E – Acronyms 

Acronym Meaning

21CTP 21st Century Truck Partnership

AACVTE UMTRI’s Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment

ACL Administration for Community Living

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act

ADAS Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

ADS Automated Driving Systems

AI Artificial Intelligence

ALARC Arid Land Agricultural Research Center

ANSI American National Standards Institute

ARPA-E DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

ARS USDA Agricultural Research Service

AS Automated System

ASSP American Society of Safety Professionals

ATCMTD Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment

ATTRI Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative

AV Automated Vehicles

AVFTAC Automated Vehicle Fast Track Action Committee

BLS United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

CAV Connected and Automated Vehicle

CBP Customs and Border Protection

CEQ Council on Environmental Quality

CFIUS Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States

CISA DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

CISE NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering

CMV Commercial Motor Vehicle

CoVeR Combat Vehicle Robotics

CV Connected Vehicle

DHS Department of Homeland Security

DOC Department of Commerce

DoD Department of Defense
Appendix E – Acronyms — 47

Acronym Meaning

DOE Department of Energy

DOI Department of the Interior

DOJ Department of Justice

DOL Department of Labor

DOS U.S. State Department

DSRC Dedicated Short Range Communication

ED Department of Education

ENG NSF Directorate for Engineering

EOP Executive Office of the President

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

ERDC Army's Engineering Research and Development Center

FAST Act Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act

FCC Federal Communications Commission

FDII Foreign-derived intangible income

FEDFLEET Federal Fleet Policy Council

FFRDC Federally Funded Research and Development Center

FHWA Federal Highway Administration

FLC Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer

FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

FMVSS Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

FOA Funding Opportunity Announcement

FTA Federal Transit Administration

FTAC Fast Track Action Committee

FTC Federal Trade Commission

FY Fiscal Year

GPS Global Positioning System

GSA General Services Administration

HHS Department of Health and Human Services

HMI Human-Machine Interface

HMMWV High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle

HPC High performance computing

HSSEDI Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute

IC-DISC Interest charge domestic international sales corporation
 48 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

Acronym Meaning

IoT Internet of Things

IP Intellectual Property

IPEC Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator

IRS Internal Revenue Service

ITA International Trade Administration

ITS NTIA Institute for Telecommunications Sciences

ITS JPO Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office

LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging

MCICOM Marine Corps Installations Command

MENNDL Multi-node Evolutionary Neural Networks for Deep Learning

MUTCD Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASCTN National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network

NCCoE NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence

NCD National Council on Disability

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

NEXTCAR Next-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Automated On-Road Vehicles

NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NIDILRR National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

NIFA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

NIJ National Institute of Justice

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

NPS National Park Service

NRMC National Risk Management Center

NSC National Security Council

NSF National Science Foundation

NSTC National Science and Technology Council

NTIA National Telecommunications and Information Administration

NTRS NASA Technical Reports Server

NTSB National Transportation Safety Board

NTV Non-Tactical Vehicle

ODD Operational Design Domain
Appendix E – Acronyms — 49

Acronym Meaning

ODEP DOL Office of Disability Employment Policy

OEDR Object and Event Detection and Response

OEM Original Equipment Manufacturers

OFS Office of Federal Sustainability

OGP GSA Office of Government-wide Policy

OIRA Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OST Office of the Secretary of Transportation

OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy

OTMP Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy

PERF Police Executive Research Forum

PRAM NIST Privacy Risk Assessment Methodology

R&D Research and Development

RCV Robotics Combat Vehicle

RFI Request for Information

S&T Science and Technology

SBA Small Business Administration

SBE NSF Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

SDO Standards Development Organization

SEC Securities and Exchange Commission

SMART DOE System Modeling for Accelerated Research in Transportation

STAR FTA Strategic Transit Automation Research

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

STI Scientific and Technical Information

STTR Small Business Technology Transfer

T2 Technology Transfer

TCF DOE Technology Commercialization Fund

TFA Technology Focus Area

TNC Transportation Network Company

UGV Unmanned Ground Vehicles

UMTRI University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

USDA United States Department of Agriculture
 50 ENSURING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES: AUTOMATED VEHICLES 4.0

Acronym Meaning

USDOT United States Department of Transportation

USPS United States Postal Service

USPTO United States Patent and Trademark Office

USTR United States Trade Representative

V2V Vehicle-to-Vehicle

V2X Vehicle-to-Everything

VERVE Visual Environment for Remote and Virtual Exploration

VTO DOE Vehicle Technologies Office

VTTI Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

WZDx Work Zone Data Exchange
51

About the National Science and Technology Council 

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is the principal means by which the Executive Branch coordinates 

science and technology policy across the diverse entities that make up the Federal research and development enterprise. 

A primary objective of the NSTC is to ensure science and technology policy decisions and programs are consistent with 

the President's stated goals. The NSTC prepares research and development strategies that are coordinated across Federal 

agencies aimed at accomplishing multiple national goals. The work of the NSTC is organized under committees that oversee 

subcommittees and working groups focused on different aspects of science and technology. More information is available 

at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/nstc.

About the Office of Science and Technology Policy

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) was established by the National Science and Technology Policy, 

Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 to provide the President and others within the Executive Office of the President 

with advice on the scientific, engineering, and technological aspects of the economy, national security, homeland security, 

health, foreign relations, the environment, and the technological recovery and use of resources, among other topics. OSTP 

leads interagency science and technology policy coordination efforts, assists the Office of Management and Budget with 

an annual review and analysis of Federal research and development budgets, and serves as a source of scientific and 

technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal 

Government. More information is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp.

About this Document 

This document presents the United States Government’s posture for surface transportation automated vehicles (AV) based 

on a vision in which American innovators are global leaders in AV technology, integrating this technology in the United 

States and around the world in a safe and secure manner. As Automated Driving Systems (ADS) come into fruition over the 

coming years and decades, this document is intended to provide AV innovators a single, high-level reference document to 

navigate the U.S. Government. The scope of this document is limited to surface transportation AVs and does not include 

maritime, railway, or aviation concerns.

This document is the result of extensive input from relevant stakeholders across 38 Federal departments, independent 

agencies, commissions, and Executive Offices of The President.

Copyright Information

This document is a work of the U.S. Government and is in the public domain (see 17 U.S.C. § 105). Subject to the stipulations 

below, it may be distributed and copied with acknowledgment to OSTP. Copyrights to graphics included in this document 

are reserved by the original copyright holders or their assignees and are used here under the government’s license and 

by permission. Requests to use any images must be made to the provider identified in the image credits or to OSTP if no 

provider is identified. Published in the United States of America, 2020.