On Wednesday, Feb. 20, Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Peter Alviti, Jr., along with state and local officials, hosted a demonstration of autonomous vehicle technology at the Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

With the initial phase of a pilot project scheduled to launch in Providence, Rhode Island this spring, the autonomous vehicles are being tested this week on low-volume roads in the Park.

“This is a very exciting day as we kick-off testing of autonomous vehicles, putting Rhode Island on the map as a leader in this new high-tech field in transportation,” says Governor Gina Raimondo.

“And we'll do it in a careful and safe manner partnering with institutions of higher education to carefully study and evaluate the service and its integration on Rhode Island roads.”

RIDOT says that it will be better equipped to understand the opportunities and challenges that come with integrating this new technology onto Rhode Island roads thanks to the research being conducted in this pilot project. Additionally, this research is expected to help improve transit, while also providing information for communities, the workforce, and policymakers.

“Thanks to the Governor's RhodeWorks program, we've made great strides in rebuilding our transportation system,” Alviti says. “At the same time, we're working on projects like the autonomous vehicle pilot project to make our transportation system better, and provide more mobility choices for our customer, the Rhode Island taxpayer.”

Known as Little Roady shuttles, the fully electric vehicles can carry five passengers, as well as an attendant who is trained to operate the vehicle manually if necessary. Up to six vehicles will be on the road at the same time, and they will operate on low-speed roads along a five-mile route along the Woonasquatucket River corridor with 12 stops.

May Mobility is providing the shuttles. The company entered into a public-private partnership with RIDOT last fall following a competitive request-for-proposals (RFP) process.

“Every time we expand to a new city, it allows us to learn something new. Partnering with RIDOT, we are more closely integrated with existing rail and other services than ever before,” explains May Mobility CEO Edwin Olson.

“We're fanatical about solving real-world transportation problems, and with this new route, we'll show how our self-driving technology can have a positive impact for the citizens of Rhode Island. Not someday, but today.”

Following the testing period in Quonset, similar testing will be conducted in Providence before the start of the service. This testing period will include testing of the vehicles and all their sensors, and a rigorous acceptance testing protocol where the vehicles will be required to pass several safety tests including adhering to lanes, avoiding obstacles, and safe operations in both daytime and nighttime conditions, as well as in different types of adverse weather.

The fleet will undergo 500 miles of testing between the two locations.

RIDOT and May Mobility note that they will develop a public education campaign that features signs along the route, as well as a website as the launch of the service gets closer.