Advance Mobility NC is the N.C. Department of Transportation’s next chapter in the field of autonomous transportation.
Advance Mobility NC aims to leverage the work of NCDOT’s aviation, integrated mobility and rail divisions to create a multimodal transportation system that improves the mobility of people and freight.
NCDOT plans to invest in new multimodal technologies to improve services, including autonomous vehicles and advanced air mobility, connected streets and freight transfer hubs.
By combining land with air mobility, NCDOT doesn’t just talk about the future of transportation. The department seeks to move its vision to reality.
For example:
- In 2018, Volvo Trucks North America, together with FedEx and the N.C. Turnpike Authority, used an advanced driver assistance system, or ADAS technology, to conduct on-highway truck platooning (allows truck drivers to follow each other closely, thereby reducing air drag and improving fuel economy) collaborative research.
- In 2020, NCDOT hosted the first demonstration flight of an uncrewed electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOL, in the nation.
Also in 2020, NCDOT deployed its first autonomous transit shuttle with the launch of the Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation, or CASSI program. Since its first run at N.C. State University, shuttles have operated at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills in 2021 and in Cary in 2023
Advance Mobility NC is NCDOT’s commitment to continue innovation in the mobility space through more demonstration cases, key investments, industry partnerships and implementation successes for the people and businesses of North Carolina.