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Apple's Lisa Jackson Joins Federal Committee Advising on Vehicle Automation

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Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, has been named as a member of the new Federal Committee on Automation. Announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the committee will act as an advisory panel to discuss and look into "some of the most pressing and relevant matters facing transportation today."

These matters are said to mainly include the development and deployment of automated vehicles. Additionally, the committee will act as a resource for the Department of Transportation as it continues to provide research, policy updates, and regulations on transportation in the U.S., while also helping "advance life-saving innovations."

Its members consist of "leading professionals and experts" in a multitude of fields.
“During my time at the Department, we have fostered some of the most significant technological changes to ever take place in transportation, and we did so while keeping our focus on the safety of the American people,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. ”This new automation committee will work to advance life-saving innovations while boosting our economy and making our transportation network more fair, reliable, and efficient.”
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In addition to Lisa Jackson, the Federal Committee on Automation will include Gloria Boyland (FedEx VP), Robin Chase (Zipcar Co-Founder), Rachel Holt (Uber Regional General Manager), Gerry Murphy (Amazon Senior Corporate Council), and various other technology executives, university professors, and automotive industry professionals.

Each member of the committee is said to contribute the "best practices, challenges, and opportunities" they have knowledge of in regards to the future of automation in vehicles. Apple's own interest in autonomous cars was made official in a letter to federal regulators last month, and now it appears that the company will be willing to share its knowledge for the betterment of vehicle automation across the industry.
As technology develops, automation may play a larger role in a number of modes of transportation, including cars, buses, trains, planes, and UAS (drone) systems. This committee will play a critical role in sharing best practices, challenges, and opportunities in automation, and will open lines of communication so stakeholders can learn and adapt based on feedback from each other.
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The full list of committee members can be found on the U.S. Department of Transportation's official website.

Article Link: Apple's Lisa Jackson Joins Federal Committee Advising on Vehicle Automation
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/01/12/lisa-jackson-committee-vehicle-automation/
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furi0usbee said:
How many seats does Google have...
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Click on the link and look?
  1. Co-Chair: Mary Barra- General Motors, Chairman and CEO
  2. Co-Chair: Eric Garcetti- Mayor of Los Angeles, CA
  3. Vice Chair: Dr. J. Chris Gerdes- Stanford University, Professor of Engineering
  4. Gloria Boyland- FedEx, Corporate Vice President, Operations & Service Support
  5. Robin Chase- Zipcar; Buzzcar; Veniam, Co-founder of Zipcar and Veniam
  6. Douglas Chey- Hyperloop One, Senior Vice President of Systems Development
  7. Henry Claypool- Community Living Policy Center, Policy Director
  8. Mick Cornett- Mayor of Oklahoma City, OK
  9. Mary “Missy” Cummings- Duke University, Director, Humans and Autonomy Lab, Pratt School of Engineering
  10. Dean Garfield- Information Technology Industry Council, President and CEO
  11. Mary Gustanski- Delphi Automotive, Vice President of Engineering & Program Management
  12. Debbie Hersman- National Safety Council, President and CEO
  13. Rachel Holt- Uber, Regional General Manager, United States and Canada
  14. Lisa Jackson- Apple, Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives
  15. Tim Kentley-Klay- Zoox, Co-founder and CEO
  16. John Krafcik- Waymo, CEO
  17. Gerry Murphy- Amazon, Senior Corporate Counsel, Aviation
  18. Robert Reich- University of California, Berkeley, Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy, Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy
  19. Keller Rinaudo- Zipline International, CEO
  20. Chris Spear- American Trucking Association (ATA), President and CEO
  21. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger- Safety Reliability Methods, Inc., Founder and CEO
  22. Bryant Walker Smith- University of South Carolina, Assistant Professor, School of Law and (by courtesy) School of Engineering
  23. Jack Weekes- State Farm Insurance, Operations Vice President, Innovation Team
  24. Ed Wytkind- President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
  25. John Zimmer- Lyft, Co-founder and President
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Naimfan said:
Just in case anyone thought Apple might not still be interested in the automotive market . . .
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It's reasonable to question this after disbanding their vehicle teams. Just because someone is voluntarily on a board or commission doesn't indicate they are creating a vehicle. It's an easy way to keep their finger on the pulse of what everyone else is doing, including the government.
 
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MacRumors said:
Apple's own interest in autonomous cars was made official in a letter to federal regulators last month, and now it appears that the company will be willing to share its knowledge for the betterment of vehicle automation across the industry.
Click to expand...

Naimfan said:
Just in case anyone thought Apple might not still be interested in the automotive market . . .
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I question an actual Apple Car, based off all the recent rumors.

it will probably be more like a more advanced, and more integrated form of CarPlay. Basically a software for auto manufacturers.

calzon65 said:
I just purchased a new car with CarPlay. Even with hands free calling, I think the amount of driver distraction (and I love automation) is on the rise.
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I agree, especially having to unplug, then replugging the iPhone after the bugs start and CP stops working.
 
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Congrats Lisa! This is awesome news.


No one from Google or Tesla on the list. Also Here (Audi/Daimler) is missing and Bosch as well. Some of the leaders in automation aren't on the list but let's not assume it's because they weren't invited. Maybe those companies refused to participate?
 
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but but but Apple's car project is a failure and they're losing people and they can't compete... :rolleyes:
 
theheadguy said:
It's reasonable to question this after disbanding their vehicle teams. Just because someone is voluntarily on a board or commission doesn't indicate they are creating a vehicle. It's an easy way to keep their finger on the pulse of what everyone else is doing, including the government.
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Their teams and auto projects have not been disbanded.
 
It's the great Bozo-dom (with Ive in fashion events, Angela Ahrendts in luxury goods shows and fairs, Eddy Cue running around in rapper shows and Hollywood coacktail parties, Cook in all kinds of federations and boards)
Getting around in congresses and committees fulfills their self-image. These people are beyond products. They don't care anymore about customers. It's all about themselves.
I don't know this lady very well but Apple as a company has nothing to offer a serious automotive committee. Zero accomplishments, minimal impact & perspective.
(ok, CarPlay: the once-to-be "infotainment standard" now 7 years behind, impactless)
 
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Bacillus said:
It's the great Bozo-dom (with Ive in fashion events, Angela Ahrendts in luxury goods shows and fairs, Eddy Cue running around in rapper shows, Cook in all kinds of federations and boards)
Walking around in congresses and committees fulfills their self-image. These people are beyond products. They don't care anymore about customers. It's all about thermselves.
I don't know this lady very well but Apple as a company has nothing to offer a serious automotive committee.
Zero accomplishments, minimal impact & perspective.
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"I don't know this lady very well but Apple as a company has nothing to offer a serious automotive committee.
Zero accomplishments, minimal impact & perspective."

Maybe you can talk a little about the range of Apple's internal (and secret) auto projects, goals, accomplishments, relationships, etc that are headed under Bob Mansfield's leadership?
 
Make your own rules is the way it goes. As Bernie said: govt doesn't regulate business - it's the other way around.....
 
adamjackson said:
Congrats Lisa! This is awesome news.


No one from Google or Tesla on the list. Also Here (Audi/Daimler) is missing and Bosch as well. Some of the leaders in automation aren't on the list but let's not assume it's because they weren't invited. Maybe those companies refused to participate?
Click to expand...

FYI - waymo is the rebranded Google self driving car project
 
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adamjackson said:
Congrats Lisa! This is awesome news.


No one from Google or Tesla on the list. Also Here (Audi/Daimler) is missing and Bosch as well. Some of the leaders in automation aren't on the list but let's not assume it's because they weren't invited. Maybe those companies refused to participate?
Click to expand...

Not from Google but John Krafcik, President of Waymo is on the list. Waymo is owned by Google's parent company, Alphabet.
 
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citysnaps said:
"I don't know this lady very well but Apple as a company has nothing to offer a serious automotive committee.
Zero accomplishments, minimal impact & perspective."
Maybe you can talk a little about the range of Apple's internal (and secret) auto projects, goals, accomplishments, relationships, etc that are headed under Bob Mansfield's leadership?
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OK, if you really want to hear:
There is neither a vision (role, product, business model) nor an implementation (software, hardware, production, process, partnering).
I am not aware of specific targets, but without a route to follow, targets have little to no meaning.
Bob Mansfield is a no-nonsense, hardware guy with an IT background.
Not exactly the phenotype to develop conceptual frameworks or revolutionary/evolutionary visions (hope I am so wrong here...but just don't see it)
He will probably inventarise all initiatives (like track& tracing, QNX low level automotive OS implementation, motor mgt. hooks and API's, traction control, traffic pattern recognition, precision predictive GPS) to see what can be done with those loose ends (sell, combine, develop, register patents that may remain defensive for several years).
I sincerely hope for real market perspectives, but I'm afraid don't see them (but feel free to add...)
The whole iCar project stems from an iPhone-centric vision of the world and self-overestimation of a certain kind that is hard to materialize.
The Apple Board fired some very senior automotive experts that knew the industry far better than themselves. This hasn't improved the chance that anybody within Apple has a clue how to continue.
Partnering for Apple/Google is quite problematic because no car company wants IT companies in-between the customers and themselves. Their own infotainment systems have surpassed anything CarPlay and the like. The same, but more profoundly, goes for autopilot driving technology.
And when Apple starts talking Siri, everybody leaves the room.
So very little chance that this all will lead Apple to any viable product or souvereign role in the automotive market in the short/medium term. To play a role of substance Apple will probably have to wait until an automotive company falls down and then consider a (merely financial) takeover. Could be Tesla, Lotus... Even then, I don't see Apple know-how to add enough value to augment their offerings - let alone to enhance their competitive advantage.
Then, about secrecy: crucial to conceal this all, and to eventually pretend nothing went wrong because nothing existed in the first place. Think of sapphire factories: zillions lost, nobody to blame...
Have a good day
 
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Bacillus said:
In short:
There is neither a vision (role, product, business model) nor an implementation (production, software, hardware, partnering)
Bob Mansfield is a no-nonsense, hardware guy with an IT background.
Not exactly the phenotype to develop conceptual frameworks or revolutionary or evolutionary visions (hope I am wrong here...but just don't see it)
He will probably inventarise all initiatives there are (like track& tracing, QNX low level automotive OS implementation, motor mgt. hooks and API's, precision predictive GPS) to see what can be done with all the loose ends (sell, combine, develop, register patents that may be merely defensive for several years).
I hope for more market perspectives, but I am afraid don't see them (but feel free to add...)
Partnering for Apple/Google is quite problematic because no car company wants these companies in-between the customers and themselves. Their own infotainment systems have surpassed anything CarPlay and the like. The same goes for autopilot driving technology, but even more urgently.
Oh, an when Apple talks Siri, everybody leaves the room.
So very little chance that this all will lead Apple to a viable product or any souvereign role in the automotive market in the short/medium term. To play a role of any substance Apple will probably have to wait until an automotive company falls down and then consider a (merely financial) takeover. Could be Tesla, Lotus... Even then, I don't see Apple tech to add enough value to augment their offerings let alone to enhance competitive advantage.
Have a good day
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"There is neither a vision (role, product, business model) nor an implementation (production, software, hardware, partnering)"

How do you know this? Are you an Apple employee privy to Apple's internal plans? Please list specifics.
 
Well played Apple well played... so I suspect you side stepping those extra stringent safety regulations on car manufacture newcomers in no time. Plus what ever other benefits you can award yourselves.

Nothing like conflicts of interests.
 
All to be fired and released in a few days...seems like they should have waited and done this so does not risk reversal. Hopefully this group can smooth laws so that we can move forward faster instead of the reverse.
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apolloa said:
Well played Apple well played... so I suspect you side stepping those extra stringent safety regulations on car manufacture newcomers in no time. Plus what ever other benefits you can award yourselves.

Nothing like conflicts of interests.
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Extra safety regulations are limiting our ability to have lighter less gas hungry cars. If a motorcycle is on the road, why can't we have an environmental car category where whatever safety is required for motorcycles is all they must meet. I might drive one since I have driven motorcycles and the risk would be similar.
 
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