Introduction to the Special Section on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: Technologies, Methodologies, and Applications

Abstract

The papers in this special section focus on connected autonomous vehicles and the technologies, methodologies, and applications that support this technology. During the last decade, there have been considerable developments in automated driving technology. This phenomenon is exemplified by the watershed event of the DARPA Challenges in the mid-2000s, followed by increased efforts from a number of industrial players and the testing of Google self-driving cars on public roads, which induced even greater investments by a number of technology providers as well as automotive manufacturers. Not only technological advancements have been demonstrated in many venues, several states and federal government in US have also moved forward to set up regulations and guidelines to prepare for the introduction of self-driving cars. Activities have intensified even more around the globe in recent years. In the next few years, many manufacturers may begin to offer automated driving system (ADS) that are equipped with various automation features. With their anticipated impacts, ADS definitely have the potential to lead to real and far-reaching ramifications in our society.