TECHNOLOGY, VEHICLES, HIGHWAYS AND FUTURE TRANSPORTATION

This paper describes past and current efforts of General Motors in the development of the technology and the encouragement of national cooperative programs to promote the use of electronics, commuications, computers, controls, sensors and actuators applied to ground transportation. These technological advancements are called intelligent vehicle/highway systems (IVHS). Examples of these range from presently available advanced traffic management systems to automated highways. Work by GM include the following: research on the development of a mathematical foundation for the description and understanding of vehicular traffic on roadways; automated highways; highway communications systems (Highway-to-car Communication System - HY-COM; Driver Aid Information and Routing - DAIR, etc.); traffic engineering (Traffic Pacer; Traffic Funnel); transportation systems (automated highway; automated vehicle control; intelligent vehicle/intelligent highway systems); motorist information services (a number of active programs by GM and others); advanced vehicle controls (Highway Driver's Assistant, etc.). It is noted that the future of advanced highways and advanced vehicles is through joint effort by the public/private sector involving government and industry, universities and other interests.