‘Curious Conversations’ podcast: Mike Mollenhauer talks about the future of transportation

Mike Mollenhauer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about how smart mobility and infrastructure are influencing the future of transportation. He explained the use of real-time data, adaptive speed control, and automated driving systems to enhance transportation safety and efficiency. He also shared the work he and his colleagues are doing related to real-time traffic management, variable speed limits, and the integration of automated vehicles with smart infrastructure.

“Curious Conversations” is available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

Takeaways

The collection of real-time data is highlighted by the ability of researchers to often get reports of images in less than 100 milliseconds from the time the image was captured. This allows traffic managers to adjust to conditions as they occur. 

A current test of adaptive speed limits – signs that are adjusted based on traffic flow – is showing a 20% to 25% reduction of collisions on that stretch of road.  

A successful and safe integration of automated vehicles will include aspects of smart infrastructure and a public education on the technology, as well as the human factors that impact it. 

About Mollenhauer

Mollenhauer is the director of the Division of Technology Implementation at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. He oversees the center's aspects of business and product development, including management of product development teams, leading business and product roadmap development activity, project management for commercial and government contracts, as well as evaluating in-vehicle technologies and quantifying driver safety behaviors.

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About the podcast

"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life. Produced and hosted by Travis Williams, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Office of Research and Innovation, university researchers share their expertise and motivations as well as the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures. New episodes are shared each Tuesday.