Automated Truck-Mounted Attenuators (ATMA) offer potential benefits for safety and operational improvements in mobile work zones by eliminating the need for a worker to operate an impact protection vehicle. The automated (driverless) ATMA system operates in a multi-vehicle leader-follower configuration where the truck-mounted attenuator truck is retrofitted with a variety of sensors and cameras that enable its automated capability. The human-driven leader vehicle transmits navigation data to the follower (driverless) ATMA vehicle using Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications. This project piloted a demonstration of the ATMA technology on June 23, 2020, and evaluated its operational and safety functions in a closed loop course, as well as testing the feasibility of ATMA in active mobile work zones throughout Gainesville, FL, over a course of several weeks.

For cost estimates, vendor-provided equipment, installation, and maintenance cost items were considered for FDOT’s pilot ATMA deployment. According to the vendor who worked with FDOT on this project, the cost to procure the ATMA technology was $250,000, and the deployment cost was $40,000 and $5,000 for yearly cost of maintenance, adding up to $295,000 altogether. The annual costs were converted to the present value using the annuity factor. The life cycle of the technology in this case was considered as five years.