SBF to head up tech talk at NAPT

TORRANCE, Calif. — SCHOOL BUS FLEET (SBF) magazine editors will head up a roundtable discussion about automated and connected vehicle technology with industry experts at the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Summit in Kansas City, Missouri, on Nov. 8.

The presentation was spurred by an article published in SBF’s November issue, that addressed how advancements in technology that allow vehicles to operate without drivers and communicate with each other, the infrastructure and pedestrians, could reduce traffic congestion by preventing crashes, as well as the implications for pupil transportation.

The discussion will cover instances of automated vehicle technology that have already been introduced into the automotive industry, as well as Google’s self-driving car project; the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute’s work on connected vehicle technology; when these technologies may be available for school buses; and concerns over logistics and liability.

Speakers will include Michael Martin, executive director of NAPT, who will discuss policy-making and related education and training that will be necessary; Steven Bayless, senior director of telecommunications and telematics at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, who will share information about connected vehicle or v2V technology; Ken Hedgecock, vice president of sales, marketing and service at Thomas Built Buses, who will address the automated technology aspect by discussing advanced telematics; and Kirk Lacko, senior product marketing manager at Blue Bird Corp., who will share the latest on the topic from Blue Bird.

The discussion will be introduced in the headliner session at 4:30 p.m. and will take place at 4:50 p.m. in the Trianon D room in the Kansas City Marriott Downtown – Muehlebach Tower.