The Volpe Center is DOT’s ‘Nerd Lab’—and Much More
Connected vehicles. Unmanned aircraft. Worldwide vessel tracking. Find out why Politico featured the Volpe Center’s multimodal expertise in its recent tour of federal government nerd labs.
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How Effective Are Pedestrian Detection Systems in Cars?
As pedestrian detection technology becomes integrated into the cars we drive, we must ask: How effective are these systems in preventing pedestrian crashes and injuries? How do we measure safety? A team of advanced vehicle experts at U.S. DOT’s Volpe Center conducted a study to find out.
The Cambridge Science Festival Comes to U.S. DOT’s Volpe Center
Science lovers of all ages gathered recently at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center to attend transportation events as part of the Cambridge Science Festival, an annual 10-day event that engages an estimated 50,000 people with science, technology, engineering, and math. Find out...
WTS International Honors Rachael Barolsky Sack with a “First of its Kind” Award
WTS International recently honored U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s Small Business Innovation Research program manager for her exceptional leadership and commitment with its “Chapter President of the Year” award—the first honor of its kind granted by the association. Find out what made her stand out.
Analyzing Online Media Reporting of Rail Suicide and Trespass Incidents
Responsible media reporting on rail suicide and trespass incidents can inform the public and help those in need. However, media reporting of such events can also lead to copycat incidents. A new report illuminates common reporting practices that could increase suicide contagion on the rail...
How Traditional Aviation Testing Can Inform Unmanned Aerial Technologies
In his award-winning paper, U.S. DOT Volpe Center engineer Seamus McGovern applied traditional flight testing techniques and principles for aircraft designs to fixed-wing and rotary-style drone designs.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Chao’s Volpe Center Homecoming
Continuing her long history with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao returned to learn how Volpe provides innovative multimodal expertise for partners at U.S. DOT, other government agencies, and the private sector. Secretary Chao...
Composing the Go-To Human Factors Guide for Flight Deck Enhancements
Modern cockpits, also known as flight decks, have hundreds of switches, alerts, and displays, and pilots are trained to know what each one of them does or indicates. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) called on Volpe to develop a single-source reference document for all human factors...Experts Reveal Safety Impact of Following Distances between Heavy Trucks in Automated Platoons
Grouping heavy trucks in the same lane with short following distances—known as platooning—can increase road capacity, improve safety, and save fuel. A team of advanced vehicle technology experts at Volpe conducted a first-of-its-kind study of truck following behavior using naturalistic driving...