By Morgen Neuhauser
A white van drove down a 47-mile stretch of rural Iowa roads. Three drivers sat in the car, all doing valuable work, but none actually touched the pedals or guided the vehicle. Instead, they were there to ensure a group of rural Iowans got where they needed to go in an autonomous vehicle.
The University of Iowa’s Driving Safety Research Institute has conducted hundreds of test drives through its Automated Driving Systems for Rural America project. The project completed unbiased research on autonomous vehicles’ performance on rural roads. It was a three-year data collection effort focused on testing autonomous technology’s ability to drive in all conditions.
Other research facilities primarily examine how autonomous vehicles operate in ideal conditions — clear weather and high-contrast roads in urban areas. However, this study aimed to go beyond those conditions, said Daniel McGehee, director of the Driving Safety Research Institute.
“We are the first place, if not the only place in the world, that is doing automated driving on rural roads,” McGehee said. “We think the future is automated driving in crummy weather. We have to be able to operate these roads everywhere.”
McGehee said the University of Iowa is up to the challenge of adapting autonomous driving technology to rural environments. Through a contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation and various other partnerships, the institute designed a vehicle for this specific purpose.
ADS for Rural America has conducted test drives in all conditions — rain or shine — because McGehee said this will ensure the technology translates to Iowans living in rural areas.
“We own our ruralness,” McGehee said. “We want rural Iowans to have the first access to going to the doctor, going to the store and seeing family through this technology.”
Omar Ahmad, project manager of ADS for Rural America, said the necessity of this project comes from the lack of public transportation options in rural areas, including taxis and ride-share services.
Older adults and people with mobility impairments need to be able to get to medical appointments and grocery stores easily, Ahmad said. He said this technology could make that possible, so research must be conducted in all conditions.
“Being able to get from one place to another is equivalent to freedom,” he said.
Initially, Ahmad said, people are often unsure what autonomous vehicles are, so communities are hesitant at first. However, he said they warm up to the idea when given the proper information.
“We were very transparent,” Ahmad said. “When we described what we were going to do in terms of testing on their roadways and why we were doing it, people were open. They were willing to accept the idea of this testing taking place on their roadways in a very responsible and safe way.”
A participant in ADS for Rural America’s test drives spoke about her experience in a webinar hosted by the University of Iowa on Feb. 2. She emphasized the necessity of these services for rural Iowans and people with disabilities.
She said transportation has always been a setback for people in wheelchairs, like her and her friends. When combined with living in a rural area, she said, individuals in wheelchairs are stuck unless they can find someone to drive them. Because of this, she said, autonomous technology would be a game changer.
“Bring me one of those cars so I can use it,” she said. “I want it now.”
Ahmad said this technology is not yet ready for widespread use. During testing, autonomous vehicles have had trouble navigating roads with no or degraded markings. They also struggle with identifying cross traffic moving at high speeds.
ADS for Rural America researchers have had to step in and manually drive the car at many rural intersections because it failed to identify even large trucks traveling on interstates at around 55-60 mph.
“We’re not talking about replacing humans; we’re talking about improving their ability to provide these services,” Ahmad said.
Urban areas typically have intersections with signals and slower-moving vehicles, while rural areas often do not, showcasing the difference between how autonomous vehicles operate in rural versus urban areas. Research must follow suit and focus on rural-specific challenges, Ahmad said.
“I think these challenges can be overcome, but it’s going to require a solution and approach that is specific to rural roadways,” he said.
The University of Iowa’s Driving Safety Research Institute has proposed expanding its study to explore autonomous transportation to medical facilities and appointments.
Regionalization of health care is happening nationwide, Ahmad said. Medical centers are no longer located in rural areas, and individuals may have multiple appointments in different locations. Because of this, he said, reliable transportation to medical care is crucial.
“We have to bring everyone along, and we have to make sure that it’s done in a responsible way,” Ahmad said.