Urban Innovate TALKS

#8 The SAE Levels of Automation Explained w/ Steve Shladover

The SAE levels of automation are the industry's shared language for self-driving technology — but most people, including many professionals, misuse them. In this episode, Dr. Henriette Cornet [https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriette-cornet/]sits down with Dr. Steve Shladover, one of the world's foremost experts on vehicle automation and a key contributor to the SAE J3016 standard itself, to set the record straight.  We break down all five levels of driving automation — what they actually mean, where the boundaries are, and why terms like "Level 2+" and "Full Self-Driving" are more marketing than reality. Steve also explains why Level 3 is a difficult bet, why trucking may be the most compelling Level 4 application, and why you should never say "autonomous" when you mean "automated." Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned AV professional, this episode will sharpen how you talk and think about vehicle automation. What you'll learn: * The correct definition of each SAE level of automation (1–5) * Why the levels apply to features, not vehicles * What the Operational Design Domain (ODD) is and why it matters as much as the level number * Why Level 2+ is not a real standard — and what it actually means * Where Tesla really sits in the automation spectrum * Why Level 5 was defined but is considered practically unachievable * The difference between "autonomous" and "automated" — and why it matters Guest: Steve Shladover [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-shladover-69629611/] is a research engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, and one of the longest-serving researchers in vehicle automation. He has contributed to both SAE and ISO standards, co-chaired the Transportation Research Board's automated driving workshops, and advises California regulators on AV policy. About Urban Innovate Talks: Hosted by Dr. Henriette Cornet [https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriette-cornet/], founder of Urban Innovate — an advisory, training, and research firm specializing in autonomous vehicles and sustainable urban mobility. Each episode brings you direct access to the experts shaping the future of how cities move. Explore our AV training programs and consulting services: https://urban-innovate.com/ [https://urban-innovate.com/]

#7 Autonomous Transit w/ William Levassor (3/3)

This episode explores how cities and transit agencies can prepare for autonomous vehicles, focusing on deployment strategies, infrastructure, safety, governance, and scaling. William Levassor from BETI shares insights on technology, costs, procurement, and operational management to help stakeholders navigate the transition to autonomous mobility. Hosted by Dr. Henriette Cornet, CEO & founder of Urban Innovate. Visit Urban Innovate [https://urban-innovate.com/] to discover how we support cities and transit agencies on AV readiness and operate at the intersection of autonomous vehicles, public transport, and urban policy, with hands-on experience in research, deployments, regulation, and large-scale pilots across Europe, the U.S., and Asia. Key topics Deployment strategies for autonomous vehicles Infrastructure and digital requirements Cost and procurement considerations  Sound bites "Don't go directly to vehicle providers." "AVs can attract new ridership." "Road infrastructure impacts AV safety." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles in Transit 01:12 AV Readiness: Preparing Cities and Transit Agencies 04:39 Understanding Service Needs for AV Deployment 08:28 Cost Considerations and Budgeting for AV Services 13:02 Evaluating Cost Savings and ROI in AV Implementation 15:47 The Future of Mobility Services and Job Shifts 20:30 Integrating Control Centers with Autonomous Vehicles 24:03 Integrating Autonomous Vehicle Services 25:23 Infrastructure Challenges for Autonomous Vehicles 26:12 Monitoring and Safety in Autonomous Vehicle Operations 31:14 Dashboard Insights for Clients 35:25 Scaling Autonomous Vehicle Services 37:40 Future of Autonomous Vehicle Procurement Resources Contact William Levassor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-levassor] Contact Henriette Cornet [https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriette-cornet/] Ruter's Request for information (RFI) - Shared Autonomous On-Demand Mobility in the Oslo Region [https://app.artifik.no/procurements/5591/?index]

#6 Will Autonomous Vehicles kill public transit? w/ William Levassor (2/3)

In this episode, Dr. Henriette Cornet talks to William Levassor from beti. Togehter, they discuss if Autonomous Vehicles may (or may not) 'kill' public transit. William shares insights on autonomous vehicles, and together they debunk common myths, and explore their impact on public transit. They discuss technology, regulation, public perception, and future scenarios for AV deployment. Keywords autonomous vehicles, public transit, public transportation, robotaxi, regulation, technology, future mobility, public perception, AV deployment, digitalization, urban mobility Key topics * Impact of autonomous vehicles on public transit * Public perception and misconceptions about AVs * Regulatory and operational challenges in AV deployment * Opportunities for AVs to improve urban mobility * Future scenarios for AV integration in cities Sound bites "AVs will be useful in low-density and suburban areas." "Immediacy is a key expectation in modern mobility." Chapters 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38] Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles and Their Impact 05:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38&t=307s] Public Perception and Misconceptions of AVs 10:49 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38&t=649s] Differentiating Technology and Service in AVs 17:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38&t=1075s] Opportunities for Public Transit Improvement 19:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38&t=1173s] Weaknesses of Public Transit in Europe and the US 24:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38&t=1473s] The Need for Immediacy in Public Transportation 27:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38&t=1628s] The Evolution of Public Transit and Technology 30:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38&t=1800s] Opportunities for Autonomous Vehicles in Public Transit 36:06 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mivYtdG38&t=2166s] Depot Management and Automation 41:22 The Future of Public Transit vs. Ride-Hailing Services 47:56 Optimizing Public Transit with Private Partnerships Resources Urban Innovate - https://urban-innovate.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjBISjFmLW1mZWdZcVhMU2tHR0RWZV9ycUt0d3xBQ3Jtc0tuNGMxMC02cFFSeU9mbktvX2pqR3FZeUFfTTVET3A5QjBrd0tZRFE5M2dXbUp0NkNxZ3lhcWdCXzE0Wk0tN3dSSS1QS0h5YTczRzdTZC1jOVRHaXRBRlVoRHZCRUE5VlhGdnRiOGZXZmxHNmZndWRlUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Furban-innovate.com%2F&v=10mivYtdG38] beti - http://www.navette-autonome.fr [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHc5R3BxN3pGeC15b0gxR1FHTjB2QTJva3Uwd3xBQ3Jtc0trYXUxcWRuekxHNVpnTXA3eGQ2UEN2bTdYS2tVcExoZV9DbjJpbXhGM0w2bjJEekVsbnNyUE9XN3puZjh6azJaTTFjZVJOLTNFNkh4NG4wdDNNdnRZd3J0YXJFVUd2RVNpOFpZU3UyZ1d3Z1l1eHZKbw&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.navette-autonome.fr%2F&v=10mivYtdG38] wsp & CapMetro YARD program in Austin on bus depot automation - https://www.wsp.com/en-us/projects/ca... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHJ1cUVvSW00VktfRWdudEdlRXFreUV2SWRqUXxBQ3Jtc0tuVVNFenZfU25WdWJjTVJMeVoxZlM3R0VNaERTR0JSbDZpWVliSlhWZF95d2d6Rk1sWDF5VFkxdERtZjV1Zng1Z08zTkRjaURaU1dQZHBuaFh2ek1UcFlZWExxSjloaW51SEhMZVZaNFlJcmU3cG1jVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsp.com%2Fen-us%2Fprojects%2Fcapmetro-yard-program&v=10mivYtdG38] Speakers links https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-levassor/  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-levassor/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriette-cornet/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbERpTFlhdXJDZG12OWJraDNOamNJbGJDVmltUXxBQ3Jtc0ttRHJRZGtac1JOMUlnaTZjYXdZWmZQNnBUamt5RExON2RMc1hvUHIzNGQwMlNlZlRyZEQ2b3QxWEtqSUVJbmNsV2gxX1g4dkUxYWtkVklWMThNcUNuUVljWTRqb05fN1BuTmtRMVJINDZCR3RYcDNTUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fhenriette-cornet%2F&v=10mivYtdG38]

#5 The Autonomous Vehicles reality check w/ William Levassor (1/3)

This episode of Urban Innovate TALKS features William Levassor, a public transit and autonomous vehicle expert, discussing the importance of data, safety, regulation, and trust in autonomous vehicle deployment. Henriette and William explore how data management, safety metrics, and regulatory frameworks shape the future of shared mobility and AV operations worldwide. Links Urban Innovate's website [https://urban-innovate.com/] Henriette Cornet on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriette-cornet/] William Levassor on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-levassor/] SFCTA's Conceptual Safety-Focused AV Permitting Framework [https://www.sfcta.org/reports/conceptual-safety-focused-av-permitting-framework] (September 2025) Key topics * Data management and safety metrics in AV operations * Regulatory frameworks and homologation processes in Europe and the US * The role of third-party oversight and trust-building in AV deployment * Stepwise approach to autonomous vehicle safety and scaling * Differences in AV market strategies between Europe, US, and China Sound Bites * "We have all this data, but what do we want to do with it?" * "Monitoring safety and performance is key to scaling AVs." * "Third-party oversight can build trust and improve safety." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles and Fleet Operations 02:43 Digitalization in Public Transit and Fleet Management 05:09 Data Collection and Safety Monitoring in AVs 08:31 Regulatory Frameworks and Data Transparency 12:07 Performance Metrics and Safety Assessment 21:27 Models of Autonomous Vehicle Deployment 22:21 Challenges in Emergency Response and Autonomous Vehicles 24:50 Regulatory Frameworks and City Roles in AV Deployment 28:14 The Importance of Trust and Data in AV Operations 30:24 Metrics and Standardization for Safety in AVs 31:40 Future of AVs: Global Perspectives and Innovations

#4 The Ethics Layer of AI with Dr Katie Evans

In this episode of Urban Innovate TALKS, host Henriette Cornet engages with philosopher Katie Evans to explore the intersection of AI, ethics, and public transportation. They discuss the importance of critical thinking in technology, the emotional responses to AI-related incidents, and the societal implications of automation. The conversation also delves into the development of a new AI tool, pulsur, and the ethical considerations that come with designing AI systems. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize the need for transparency, moral responsibility, and the impact of technology on human agency and public life. Takeaways Philosophy encourages critical thinking about technology. AI literacy is distinct from science fiction. Public perception of AI incidents is often emotional. Automation raises questions about job displacement. Public transportation should maintain anonymity. AI tools must balance control and flexibility. Ethical considerations are crucial in AI design. Transparency in data collection is essential. The future of cities involves complex moral questions. Technology should enhance, not diminish human agency. Chapters 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI] Introduction to Urban Innovate Talks 02:29 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=149s] Exploring Philosophy and AI Ethics 05:41 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=341s] The Role of Science Fiction in AI Literacy 08:14 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=494s] Understanding Autonomous Vehicles and Public Perception 09:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=565s] The Emotional Impact of AI-Related Incidents 12:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=737s] The Intersection of Automation and Employment 14:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=896s] The Future of Public Transportation and Anonymity 17:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=1057s] The Development of Pulsar: A New AI Tool 20:21 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=1221s] Ethical Considerations in AI Design 23:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjuG3sSfuI&t=1406s] Final Thoughts on AI, Ethics, and Society