AUVSI'S Recent Regulatory Filings in Response to NHTSA and NIST Requests for Stakeholder Input

 
The 2022 federal regulatory calendar is speeding ahead as a number of agencies work to keep up with the pace of industry innovation, and recently AUVSI filed comments in response to requests for stakeholder input from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). 
 
On December 29, 2021 NHTSA released for public comment an updated Standing General Order (SGO) on information collection for crashes involving Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving system (ADS) vehicles. A version of the SGO had previously been approved under emergency authorization, but now NHTSA is moving ahead with the standard approval process as dictated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  
 
In this iteration, NHTSA is requesting approval from OMB for a three-year extension of the SGO, and AUVSI filed comments to OMB encouraging officials to only approve the extension if significant changes to the SGO are pursued. Primary among our requests is that NHTSA do a better job delineating between crashes involving a Level 2 ADAS vehicle and vehicles equipped with ADS, as these technologies are drastically different and should be communicated as such from the foremost federal agency responsible for ensuring vehicle safety.  
 
We look forward to OMB officials thoughtfully reviewing our submission and those of other interested stakeholders. 
 
Additionally, NIST released a request for information “about the public and private sector marketplace trends, supply chain risks, legislative, policy, and the future investment needs of eight emerging technology areas, including: Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things in Manufacturing, Quantum Computing, Blockchain Technology, New and Advanced Materials, Unmanned Delivery Services, Internet of Things, and Three-dimensional Printing.”  
 
We were very pleased to see NIST prioritize unmanned delivery services in the list of eight identified emerging technologies and emphasized a number of points about the potential of this industry to revolutionize American lives. However, such positive change will only be possible if the federal government prioritizes critical rulemakings such as BVLOS, pursues effective public-private partnerships to tackle cross-cutting issues including workforce development, and remains agile as these technologies are ever evolving.  
 
A full copy of the AUVSI filing can be found here, and we look forward to NIST officials addressing the various points mentioned in their final report to Congress. 
 
The core of AUVSI’s mission is to build, grow and foster a viable and sustainable unmanned and autonomous systems industry. Critical to achieving that goal is establishing balanced regulations and appropriate policies that support the development and expanded operation of unmanned systems. As these technologies are increasingly integrated into society, opportunities will unlock new jobs and services that benefit Americans – but to take advantage of this momentum, industry needs informed agency leaders at all levels, and especially in Washington, D.C. 
 
As always, AUVSI stands ready to continue collaborating with federal agencies as the leading voice on behalf of companies and individuals working in the unmanned systems space, and toward a future transportation ecosystem strengthened by the increased safe integration of these technologies.   
Autonomous Vehicles
Government
Regulatory

February 2026

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