Inclusive Design Challenge

On April 21, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the opening of Stage I of the Inclusive Design Challenge (Challenge). The Challenge seeks innovative design solutions that can enable people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities to use automated vehicles to access jobs, healthcare, and other critical destinations. The Challenge is a part of a larger set of departmental initiatives on accessibility, announced at the Access and Mobility for All Summit.

The Challenge intends to seek solutions to improve passenger vehicle accessibility, encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations, incentivize development of new designs and technologies, and tap into the creativity and knowledge of the disability community, researchers, advocates, and entrepreneurs.

Seeking Solutions to Common Barriers

The Challenge asks researchers and innovators to develop solutions to solve our most pressing access barriers for people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities. Design teams from academic and research institutions, the business sector, technology companies and analytics firms are invited to compete for cash prizes. Solutions may include both hardware and software solutions aimed to address barriers including:

  • Locating an Automated Driving System-dedicated vehicle (ADS-DV)
  • Entering an ADS-DV
  • Securing passengers and mobility equipment
  • Inputting information
  • Interacting with the ADS in routine and emergency situations
  • Exiting an ADS-DV
  • Challenge Structure
The total prize purse for the Challenge is $5,000,000, with initial submitters competing for up to ten $300,000 semifinalist awards based on their proof-of-concept ideas. In Stage II, semifinalists will compete for a portion of the remaining prize purse by developing prototype demonstrations of their concepts.

Stage I – Proof-of-Concept Ideas – Stage I is now open! Stage I of the Challenge requests written proposals describing the design solution. Proposals are due October 30, 2020, with semifinalists to be selected in early 2021. Read the full Challenge Statement and submit your concept.

Stage II – Prototype/Demonstrations – Semifinalists will be invited to design charrette(s) in summer 2021; final demonstration and prizes expected to be awarded in summer 2022.

- Reprinted from US DOT

More details at: https://www.transportation.gov/accessibility/inclusivedesign

Nebraska LTAP Tue. Aug. 25, 2020