Automated highway systems

Currently, intelligent transportation systems are being developed and implemented in various forms. Advanced traffic management systems (ATMS), automatic traveler information systems (ATIS) and driver support systems are all a reality today. However, many challenges remain on the road to realizing a fully automated highway system (AHS). The complexity of developing large distributed systems such as AHS has raised warning flags in the computer science community. Unexpected complex interactions between the software and hardware can induce errors that can be fatal. The authors argue that these issues should provide a cautionary note to practicing engineers before deploying a fully automated highway system.