Research

DOT-Sponsored Research Activities

IntelliDriveSM Certification

Certification is the process of ensuring that system components meet the necessary requirements to perform as intended. Certification will ensure that components that are manufactured according to IntelliDriveSM requirements will be trusted by the system and by users.

The vision for the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT’s) IntelliDriveSM Certification research program is to work in close cooperation with public and private partners to establish appropriate certification requirements for equipment.

Research Plan

A successful IntelliDriveSM deployment strategy must address the inherent risks to consumer safety, security, and privacy associated with a system breakdown. With national interoperability comes the opportunity to establish national standards and criteria for certification of individual products that will have access to the system, system processes, and operational procedures. Because this is a new high-risk industry without an established consumer base, DOT will work with industry to develop certification processes and procedures independently. The ultimate form that a certifying entity would take, and the potential role of the federal government in oversight and enforcement of requirements, is yet to be determined and will be investigated as part of both the technical research program as well as the IntelliDriveSM Policy and Institutional Issues research program.

Certification research will be primarily focused on understanding the needs for device compliance, system security, and privacy requirements.

DOT will conduct the following research activities in support of certification:

  • Policy Research Related to Certification – Establish a forum for solving policy-related issues, including determining what is to be certified; the entity that will be responsible for certification; and the parties that will need to obtain certification. This research is included within the IntelliDriveSM Policy and Institutional Issues research program, and it is envisioned that federal, state, and local government stakeholders will be heavily involved in providing input and direction in this research area.
  • Technical Requirements for Certification – Define what level of components within a device, or which interfaces, need to be certified, and determine how to accomplish the certification. It is envisioned that government and industry will share responsibility for this area of work. However, government will have a primary role in funding development prior the emergence of a consumer market for certified products. Government will serve as an enabler and coordinator of this function.
  • Implementation Support and Oversight – Implementation of the planned certification process will likely be conducted by a third party entity. The implementation process will include development of test tools and methods. However, the federal government may have a role in assisting with start-up, and in overseeing operation and adherence to standards. This implies an ongoing operational role for the federal government beyond the scope of research.
Research Goals
  • To work with industry to define certification needs and develop supporting test methods and tools.
  • To develop a plan so that in the future, certification activities will become self-sustaining through fees for testing; development of new requirements and test methods will be shaped by the organizations seeking those requirements.
Research Outcomes

The results of this program are intended to deliver:

  • Nationwide interoperability of system components.
  • Elimination of inherent risks to consumer safety, security and privacy in the event of a whole or partial system breakdown.
  • Establishment of an oversight structure (governance structure) that will provide the processes and procedures for system access as well as system enforcement.
  • An open, well-defined process that allows manufacturers to know the system requirements necessary to provide trustworthy components.