Chaudhary, S., & Bahr, B., & Seetha Ram, G. S. (2025, April), Toward Equitable Autonomous Vehicle Deployment  Paper presented at 2025 ASEE PSW Conference, California Polytechnic University, California. 10.18260/1-2--55195

\bibitem{asee_peer_55195}
  Chaudhary, S., \& Bahr, B., \& Seetha Ram, G. S. (2025, April), \emph{Toward Equitable Autonomous Vehicle Deployment}
  Paper presented at 2025 ASEE PSW Conference, California Polytechnic University, California.
  10.18260/1-2--55195

Shreyas Chaudhary, Behnam Bahr, and Gokul Srinath Seetha Ram.  "Toward Equitable Autonomous Vehicle Deployment".  2025 ASEE PSW Conference, California Polytechnic University, California, 2025, April.  ASEE Conferences, 2025.  https://peer.asee.org/55195 Internet.  14 Aug, 2025

\bibitem{asee_peer_55195}
  Shreyas Chaudhary, Behnam Bahr, and Gokul Srinath Seetha Ram.
  "Toward Equitable Autonomous Vehicle Deployment".
  \emph{2025 ASEE PSW Conference, California Polytechnic University, California, 2025, April}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2025.
  https://peer.asee.org/55195 Internet.  14 Aug, 2025

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_55195
author = "Shreyas Chaudhary, Behnam Bahr, and Gokul Srinath Seetha Ram"
title = "Toward Equitable Autonomous Vehicle Deployment"
booktitle = "2025 ASEE PSW Conference"
year = "2025"
month = "April"
address = "California Polytechnic University, California"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/55195}
number = {10.18260/1-2--55195}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - The rapid development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) promises transformative changes in global transportation, with potential benefits in safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. However, AV deployment faces significant challenges influenced by infrastructure disparities, socio-economic factors, and diverse behavioural patterns across regions. This research addresses the "global paradox" of AV adoption, where AVs thrive in structured environments with advanced infrastructure and predictable driving behaviours but struggle to perform reliably in regions with less-developed infrastructure, unpredictable traffic patterns, and complex socio-economic landscapes. To explore these challenges, this study undertakes a comprehensive correlation analysis across infrastructure quality, traffic behaviour, and socio-economic factors, examining their influence on AV performance, safety, and societal acceptance. Data were collected from various regions, representing a spectrum of infrastructural and socio-economic conditions. Key variables include road quality, network complexity, emergency response times, pedestrian density, socio-economic indicators, weather variability, and internet infrastructure quality. This study identifies critical factors supporting or inhibiting AV deployment across diverse environments by analyzing correlations between these variables and AV performance indicators—such as accident rates, sensor reliability, and adaptability to behavioural patterns. The findings will reveal significant correlations, underscoring the multifaceted challenges of implementing AV technology globally. For example, AVs perform reliably in regions with well-maintained infrastructure, as measured by road quality, comprehensive road signage, and regulated network complexity. In contrast, AVs deployed in areas with underdeveloped infrastructure or complex road networks show increased accident rates and sensor errors, indicating a need for adaptive technology that can respond to diverse conditions. Additionally, the study finds that local driving behaviours, such as aggressive driving or rule non-compliance, significantly impact AV decision-making and safety outcomes, particularly in densely populated urban areas. These findings highlight the need for adaptable AV frameworks and sensor technologies that can function effectively within region-specific behavioural and infrastructure dynamics. A crucial part of this research examines the socio-economic and technological disparities that shape public acceptance and trust in AV technology. Regions with limited internet infrastructure face challenges in supporting the data-intensive operations that AVs require, particularly those relying on real-time cloud processing and communication. Similarly, socio-economic factors such as income level and education correlate with public trust and acceptance of AVs, with wealthier regions showing higher adoption rates compared to low-income areas. This disparity raises ethical concerns regarding equitable access to AV technology and the risk of widening socio-economic gaps through uneven AV deployment. To address these challenges, this research proposes a flexible framework for AV deployment that is adaptable across regions with varied infrastructure and socio-economic profiles. This framework underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, where engineers must work alongside policymakers, urban planners, and data scientists to ensure that AVs can operate reliably across both structured and unstructured environments. By fostering skills that allow future engineers to consider both technological adaptation and social responsibility, this framework promotes the development of autonomous systems that are safe, efficient, and inclusive on a global scale.
The implications of this research extend to engineering education, where insights on infrastructure, behavioural dynamics, and adaptability could be integrated into engineering curricula to prepare students for the complexities of global technology deployment. Through case studies, project-based learning, and interdisciplinary coursework, engineering students can gain a nuanced understanding of the factors that affect AV deployment success in diverse contexts. By equipping future engineers with the skills to design adaptable technologies, this research aligns with the broader goals of educating engineers to be collaborative, innovative, and socially responsible leaders.
In summary, this study highlights the need for a comprehensive, context-sensitive approach to AV deployment that considers infrastructure quality, driving behaviours, and socio-economic diversity. By focusing on the adaptability of AV systems to varied global conditions, this research underscores the critical role of inclusive technological design and responsive policy frameworks in realizing the potential of autonomous vehicles. The findings offer a roadmap for achieving an ethically responsible and globally inclusive transportation ecosystem, where AV technology is accessible, equitable, and adaptable to all communities.

AU  - Shreyas Chaudhary
AU  - Behnam Bahr
AU  - Gokul Srinath Seetha Ram
CY  - California Polytechnic University, California
DA  - 2025/04/10
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Toward Equitable Autonomous Vehicle Deployment
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/55195
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--55195
ER  -