Florida AV Summit Wraps with Push Toward Real-World Deployment
The three-day Florida Automated Vehicles Summit held at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in ChampionsGate marked a turning point in Florida’s efforts to shift autonomous and connected vehicle technology from demonstrations to everyday use.
Transportation-agency officials, policy makers and industry leaders gathered to spotlight how Florida’s large resident base—23 million people—and its 150 million tourists annually make the state an ideal testing zone for emerging mobility technologies, according to Jeff Brandes of the Florida Policy Project.
From demos to deployment
At the summit, attendees were able to ride in self-driving shuttles and explore automated delivery vehicles, electric mobility platforms and connected roadway systems from firms including Waymo, Beep, Saferydr and Glydways.
A Glydways spokesperson emphasised that “seeing is believing” when it comes to building public trust in autonomous vehicles.
Strategic push ahead
Organisers are now focusing on moving technology “off the expo floor” and into real-world systems that Floridians will use daily.
The goal: more test sites, additional partnerships and more autonomous vehicle deployments in Central Florida over the coming year, positioning the region as a national hub for mobility innovation.
Why Florida?
Florida’s scale, mix of residents and visitors, and its infrastructure profile make it appealing for large-scale deployment of autonomous and connected vehicles. As Brandes put it: Florida is “going to be the key hub for that conversation.”
With the summit now concluded, the key takeaway is that Florida is advancing from concept demonstrations toward integrating autonomous mobility into everyday transport systems. The coming year will be pivotal in determining whether those ambitions translate into usable services on Florida roadways
