Automated Shuttle Pilots at Yellowstone National Park and Wright Brothers National Memorial Achieved High Visitor Satisfaction Rates of 95.4 Percent and 91.9 Percent, Respectively
Post-Ride Surveys from the First Automated Shuttle Pilots on U.S. Recreational Public Lands Demonstrated Strong Visitor Acceptance
Wyoming, United States
Kill Devil Hills, NC
Automation in Our Parks: Automated Shuttle Pilots at Yellowstone National Park and Wright Brothers National Memorial
Summary Information
In 2021, the National Park Service (NPS) launched the first-ever automated shuttle pilots on any U.S. recreational public lands. These demonstrations—"The Electric Driverless Demonstration in Yellowstone" (TEDDY) at Yellowstone National Park and "Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation" (CASSI) at Wright Brothers National Memorial—allowed the NPS to test the suitability of automated driving systems (ADS) on public lands and in remote locations.
The TEDDY shuttle pilot operated from June to August 2021. The deployment included two routes: a Lodge Route connecting the Canyon Village Visitor Services area with nearby lodges, and a Campground Route connecting the main parking area with the campground. The CASSI pilot operated at Wright Brothers National Memorial from April to July 2021 with a single shuttle on a 1.5-mile loop through the memorial site.
The pilots were part of broader NPS efforts to advance emerging mobility as a tool to enhance visitor experience, protect resources, and improve safety.
METHODOLOGY
Both pilots conducted visitor surveys to assess satisfaction and overall experience with the automated shuttle services. The surveys asked respondents about topics such as satisfaction with the shuttle service, timeliness, and whether they would like to see more automated shuttles in national parks. The TEDDY survey received 222 responses (approximately 2 to 4 percent response rate) while the CASSI survey received 273 responses (approximately 8 percent response rate).
FINDINGS
- At Yellowstone National Park, 95.4 percent of survey respondents either "Strongly Agreed" (78.7 percent) or "Somewhat Agreed" (16.7 percent) with the statement "I had a good experience using the shuttle."
- At Wright Brothers National Memorial, 91.9 percent of survey respondents either "Strongly Agreed" (85.3 percent) or "Somewhat Agreed" (6.6 percent) with the statement "I had a good experience using the shuttle."
- For both pilots, there was general agreement that the shuttles were timely. At Yellowstone, 90.1 percent of respondents agreed that "the shuttle arrived at my stop within a reasonable amount of time," while at Wright Brothers, 90.0 percent agreed with the same statement.
- Perception of safety improved after riding the shuttles at both locations. At Yellowstone, 98 percent of riders felt "somewhat safe" or "very safe" after riding (compared to 92 percent before riding). At Wright Brothers, 86 percent felt "somewhat safe" or "very safe" after riding (compared to 70 percent before riding).
- Most riders at both locations used the shuttles primarily for a fun experience rather than for transportation (83.2 percent at Yellowstone and 61.6 percent at Wright Brothers).
- Over 83 percent of Yellowstone respondents and 94.3 percent of Wright Brothers respondents agreed either "Somewhat" or "Strongly" with the statement that they would want to see more automated shuttles in national parks.
- Together, the two pilots served over 13,400 riders on more than 3,300 trips, demonstrating significant visitor interest in the technology.
