Figure 38: AIPV system layout [97] The first AIPV program in the USA was launched by the Colorado DOT in 2017 [98]. The positive experience led to an autonomous maintenance technology pool fund including 12 paid state DOT members [99]. The Pool Fund currently has 14 State DOT members, including Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Washington DOTs. The Missouri DOT awarded a contract to purchase two AIPV vehicles for work zone maintenance in 2018 [87]. The following year, the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research announced an AIPV pilot demonstration. In Florida, the University of Florida in collaboration with the Florida DOT is also initiating plans to evaluate AIPV [95]. Aside from these states, California. Minnesota and North Dakota have purchased AIPV systems and vehicles indicating that the interest for this technology is increasing fast among the country’s DOTs. The details of the initial experience of these states and research institutions with AIPV will be discussed later. 3.3.1.1 Advantages and Disadvantages As mentioned before, the main benefit of the AIPV system is removing the driver from harm’s way, which includes potential death or lifelong injury. According to a 2021 study, developers also point out other advantages of the AIPV [96]:
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