Policies Driven by Innovation Taking a Hands-Off Policy Approach to Unmanned Systems Michele Satterlund/May 5, 2017

“To create a unified voice for users of unmanned systems in Virginia, industry representatives recently formed a trade association.”

March 3, 2017 America is now one step closer to becoming a sci-fi utopia, thanks to a new law passed in Virginia. On Friday the state's governor signed a ruling which will allow delivery robots to use its sidewalks and crosswalks from July 1st. Advised by Starship Technologies (an Estoninan robotics company that specializes in ground delivery) the legislation states that the bots cannot travel faster than ten miles per hour, or weigh over 50 pounds.

Your delivery man is being replaced by this cute, sidewalk-cruising... Thursday, 27 Apr 2017 | 11:00 AM ET Starship Technologies has partnered with Postmates to start making robotic deliveries in Silicon Valley. http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000613782

Report Virginia law will smooth the way for automated-driving research June 10, 2016 | HERNDON, Virginia Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Thursday signed the nation’s first law that allows a driver to view moving images, such as videos or social media, in a car while the vehicle is operating in automated mode. Gov. McAuliffe’s action was the first ceremonial signing of such a law, underscoring Virginia’s recognition of the importance of the new measure to the future of highway safety in the state. Virginia, Florida and Tennessee earlier this year passed measures that bring the statutes up to date with the latest science on driver behavior. The new law will expand opportunities for continued automated vehicle research in the state by companies like Audi, a pioneer in autonomous driving. "Jack," a piloted Audi RS 7 concept was on display in Richmond on Thursday at the Science Museum of Virginia. Volkswagen Group of America and Audi of America are headquartered in Herndon. The new law may seem counterintuitive to some, but it’s based on how drivers perform when advanced vehicle automation is made available. Until these new measures were passed in the three states, the laws held that no screen in a vehicle, such as the navigation-system screen, could present moving images. For the most part, such laws were enacted to prevent unsafe practices such as allowing a driver to watch a movie on a tablet computer while he was driving.

But There’s More Work To Do……. Virginia is Leading…….. Proactively passed legislation prohibiting a locality from regulating privately owned unmanned aircraft systems. First state to establish a state-focused trade association to lobby on behalf maritime, aerial and ground unmanned sectors. Established the Virginia Automated Corridor to streamline the use of AV testing on major interstate and toll roads. Home to the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership Test Site – one of only six sites in the nation to achieve this designation from the FAA. Home to the Virginia Smart Road, a state-of-the art, full-scale 2.2-mile controlled=access test track built to Federal Highway Administration standards. Cutting-edge technology firms and federal interests from defense to NASA call Virginia home and use Virginia’s unique topographical advantages (air, land and sea domains) to test unmanned systems. The Secretary of Transportation’s office is leading strategic planning for the commonwealth, Virginia Automated 20xx that will outline strategies to prepare for the transition of autonomous vehicles into the transportation network 5G bill (SB1282) pending action by the Governor by May 5th, this will allow 5G technology to be installed on public rights of way and structures But There’s More Work To Do…….

2017 Legislative Successes Advocated for a bill that enabled Virginia to become the first state in the nation to pass legislation to allow unmanned vehicles (robots) on sidewalks Monitored and amended various texting and distracted driving legislation introduced to ensure no unintended consequences to the autonomous motor vehicle industry in Virginia Lobbied to defeat privacy and trespass legislation that would have crippled the UAS industry by exposing drone operators to civil and criminal liability Served as lead proponent of amendments to unmanned aerial vehicle privacy legislation including the integration of technology neutral language as to not single out unmanned systems. Led the charge to develop amendments to a bill that creates, for the first time, a general statutory right to privacy in Virginia Looking ahead, through continued work with key members of the General Assembly and other relevant stakeholders, USAV will use the summer of 2017 to review safety, privacy and trespass issues associated with unmanned systems legislation to help ensure a balance is maintained between the interests of private landowners and the appropriate certainty and clarity that is needed for a thriving unmanned systems industry in the Commonwealth

What Can You Do? Educate, Educate, Educate Questions or Comments? Michele Satterlund 804-775-1911 msatterlund@mwcllc.com