Understanding Self-Driving Cars: Educational Tools for Automation

The rapid development and deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) present both challenges and opportunities for the public. This project aims to create a comprehensive suite of educational materials tailored to engage and inform a diverse audience, particularly kids and young adults, about AV technologies. These materials will include zines, comics, videos, and other digital content designed to demystify AV technology and explain its potential impacts on urban environments. By focusing on clear, accessible communication, this initiative will foster public awareness, understanding, and engagement, ensuring that all citizens—regardless of age or background—can participate in the conversation about the future of transportation.

USDOT Priorities:

This project directly supports several key USDOT priorities, including Equity, Climate and Sustainability, and Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness. The project addresses Equity by creating educational content specifically designed to reach underserved and under-messaged populations, ensuring broad access to information about AV technologies. This inclusive perspective is critical, as access to transportation innovations should not be limited by age, or educational background.

Furthermore, the project contributes to Climate and Sustainability by highlighting the potential environmental benefits of AVs, such as reductions in traffic congestion, pollution, and energy use. By educating the public on these aspects, the project encourages the adoption of AV technologies that can support more sustainable and efficient urban systems.

Finally, the project supports Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness by preparing future generations to understand and interact with cutting-edge technologies – and to see career opportunities in STEM fields. By fostering technological literacy from an early age, this project helps ensure that young people are equipped to participate in the evolving mobility sector, which is critical for maintaining the US leadership in transportation innovation.

Principal Investigator:

William Riggs, PhD

PI Contact Information:

wriggs@usfca.edu

MTI Research Associate

Funding Source(s) and Amounts Provided (by each agency or organization):

$37,260 (federal); $28,750 (non-federal)

Total Project Cost:

66010

Agency ID or Contract Number:

69A3552348328; ZSB12017-SJAUX

Dates:

November 2024 to September 2025

Implementation of Research Outcomes:

This research project will generate several key outputs that will serve to inform and engage the public about autonomous vehicle technologies, including:

5–8 short videos designed for social media platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat) ranging from 90 seconds to 6 minutes in length.
A catalog of educational materials, both printed and multimedia, for use in libraries, schools, and community centers.
Social media accounts with a series of posts to engage young audiences.

A comprehensive final report will be produced, summarizing the research process, the creation of educational materials, and lessons learned. The report will include a roadmap and budget for the creation of additional educational materials, such as podcasts and longer-form videos featuring interviews with AV experts, policymakers, and community leaders. These materials will be designed to support ongoing public education efforts. The report will be published on the MTI website, alongside multimedia resources that will be accessible to a broad audience.

Impacts/Benefits of Implementation:

The anticipated outcomes and impacts of this project are multifaceted. First, the educational materials produced will significantly increase public awareness and understanding of autonomous vehicle technologies, particularly among young people and underserved communities. By reaching diverse audiences with clear, engaging content, the project will help demystify AVs and make the public more receptive to their deployment in urban environments. This will play a crucial role in fostering public acceptance of AV technologies, which is critical for their successful integration into society.

Additionally, the project will contribute to policy discussions by equipping the public with the knowledge needed to engage in informed dialogue about AVs and their potential to serve transport needs in cities. By ensuring that the public—not just experts—understands the societal, environmental, and economic implications of AVs, the project will help create a more inclusive and democratic process for shaping the future of transportation. Moreover, the materials produced will support community engagement and outreach efforts for other organizations – h local governments, transportation agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Finally, this project will have a lasting impact on the sustainability and economic strength of urban transportation systems. By promoting awareness of the potential for Avs to reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and improve transportation efficiency, the project encourages the adoption of more sustainable transportation solutions. Additionally, by fostering technological literacy among younger generations, the project helps prepare the workforce of the future to engage with and drive innovations in the AV sector, which will be critical for maintaining US competitiveness and inspiring STEM-based transport careers.

Project Number:

2503

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Understanding Self-Driving Cars: Educational Tools for Automation

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