Dive Brief:

• The Department of Transportation announced the formation of an Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation (ACAT), as a resource for crafting federal policy on the development of automated transportation, reports Transportation. gov.
• The committee will work to advance the use of autonomous vehicles, enhanced freight technologies, railroad automation, aviation navigation, and unmanned aircraft deployment.
• The Department seeks 15 people with cross-modal perspectives on intelligent transportation systems (ITS), robotics, new methods of air traffic control and advanced transportation deployment.

Dive Insight:

The Department of Transportation's move to create an advisory committee shows the expected importance and innovation potential of automated technology.

Just like when the administration released its guidelines on self-driving vehicles, the creation of the advisory committee attempts to preempt major changes in the industry. Automated technology is not just present in cars and trucks, worldwide drones are already being used for advertisements and medical deliveries.

Advisory committees are typically formed to supplement the agency's regulatory focus with technical expertise at a time of disruption, rapid change, or regulatory need. In this case, regulators are following the industry's rapid change.