Pilot Systems International, LLC is a twenty-year automotive control systems company. Pilot is led by a management team that is deeply experienced in the creation, management, and launch of emerging automotive technologies. Pilot’s Vehicle Operating Information System (VOIS™) is a further example of Pilot’s exceptional track record. By the way, “VOIS™” is pronounced “voice”.
In 2019 Pilot was contracted by the DoT, to enhance the DOT’s understandings of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). In the process of contributing to the DOT’s knowledge base, Pilot developed Pilot’s definition of a critical missing element of an eventual AV presence, that being a VOIS™.
The automotive industry and the related government agencies are investing at least $85 billion in the development of efficient, safety conscious improvements in how we move people and products, in the United States. Key among these ambitious initiatives is the development and launching of AVs. Investments, of this size, are consistent with the industry’s belief that related revenues (e.g. savings) could exceed $800 billion per year, as soon as 2025.
Pilot’s contributions, to this DoT program, identified and defined a critical gap in the systems that will ultimately enable AVs: The absence of sufficient operational information.
The first of Pilot’s work products – the “AV Challenge” document – provided a high-level explanation of the capabilities, features, advantages, and disadvantages of AVs. In this context, Pilot conveyed the urgency of closing the current glaring operating information gap. While the potential benefits of AVs, including enhancements in traffic operation and road safety are immense, these benefits will remain out of reach in the absence of an adequate information system similar to the system that Pilot envisions in VOIS™. This system will ultimately gather and make available, to all vehicles (including AVs), critical vehicle operating information. This is described in Pilot’s “Technical Survey”.
Subsequently, Pilot developed and documented a clear understanding of just what information should be gathered. Pilot made clear the need to clearly define the precision and timing required of this critical information. Among other insights, this understanding is included in Pilot’s “VOIS™ Product Requirements Document” (PRD). Infrastructure characteristics, that affect vehicle operations, data gathering, and reporting were classified in Pilot’s fourth deliverable, “VOIS™ Characteristics”.
In response to a specific request, from the DoT, Pilot developed a supplemental work product. This work product discussed the Perception, Planning, and Drive (PPD) actions of an AV as it approaches, transits, and exits an element of vehicle operating infrastructure. From this “AV Actions” analysis, Pilot provided increasingly focused insights into the value of a VOIS™.
Pilot appreciates the relevance and importance of the thousands of standards and regulations related to the design and operation of vehicles, including AVs.
Pilot will utilize their proprietary CertTrac™ processes to manage compliance to relevant regulations and standards.
Pilot’s final deliverable, to the DoT, was a plan to commercialize their VOIS™. Pilot has confidence that implementation of this plan, including the formation of strategic partnerships, will lead to the successful launching of a VOIS™.