Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMAs) enhance safety in roadway work zones by shielding crews from traffic-related accidents. Traditionally, these safety vehicles are driven by humans who remain at risk in the event of a collision. To eliminate this hazard, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has developed an Automated TMA (ATMA) system through a multi-phase program. Phase 1 introduced low-speed, GPS-dependent autonomous following capabilities, while Phase 2 expanded the system’s capability to operate without GPS using machine vision, supported speeds up to 35 mph, and significantly reduced hardware complexity and costs. The system has since been successfully piloted in live road environments, including complex areas such as tunnels and highways, using real maintenance crews.

The Phase 3 of the ATMA program, in partnership with DeAngelo Contracting Services (DCS), aims to prepare the system for commercial deployment by enhancing usability, durability, and safety. This includes co-developing a production-ready design, ruggedizing hardware, refining LiDAR object detection, and implementing a safety monitoring system.