Articles from 2021

safety driver and co-pilot

Dec. 2021 update: Phase 1 of project complete

Thursday, December 9, 2021
The ADS for Rural America project launched in October 2021 and has completed its first phase of data collection. See an example map and learn more about the roles of the safety driver and co-pilot.
Automated shuttle bus on rural Iowa road

Ride with us! Participation sign-up now open

Want to ride in a partially automated vehicle with us? We’re now looking for people who are age 65 or older, have a disability that affects their mobility (age 25 or older), or have low vision impairment (age 25 or older). We’ll be stopping in Iowa City, Hills, Riverside, and Kalona.
Speaking with community members at the Johnson County Fair

Summer outreach events

Tuesday, August 3, 2021
We've had a great time so far this summer attending local outreach events to talk to people about our ADS for Rural America project. We've been to three of the four communities along our project route: Riverside, Hills, and Iowa City.
Automated shuttle bus on gravel road

Photo Gallery: ADS for Rural America

Learn more about our ADS for Rural America project and our newly-equipped Ford Transit shuttle bus, set to be on Iowa roads later this summer.
Rural route map: Iowa City, Hills, Riverside, Kalona loop

Project update: Webinar, Hexagon | AutonomouStuff case study

Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Read our latest newsletter update, with an article from our partners at AutonomouStuff in Morton, Illinois, an upcoming webinar with our researchers, and a note on our dedication to safety.  
ADS bus at AutonomouStuff

Case study: Automated Driving Systems for Rural America

Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Our tech partners Hexagon | AutonomouStuff in Morton, Illinois, have been busy with the final software integration and testing of our new automated vehicle, set to hit Iowa rural roads this summer.
ADS Transit with labels

Project update: Equipment installed on new research vehicle

Wednesday, March 10, 2021
The Transit shuttle bus for the University of Iowa's ADS for Rural America project has been equipped with automated driving technology by Illinois-based AutonomouStuff.
Tesla and Ford Transit, UI automated vehicles

Creating an Automated Shuttle for America’s Backroads

Thursday, January 28, 2021
An automated shuttle bus is about to hit Iowa roads next summer. Here's a brief update on our ADS for Rural America project by ADAPT, including how our vehicle is becoming automated at AutonomouStuff, LLC to how COVID-19 has impacted the project.