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New Law Keeps Nevada ‘at the Forefront’ in Race for Self-Driving TechnologyNevada’s strategy to embrace innovative industries gained a boost this June with the adoption of a new law hailed by the autonomous vehicle industry as a major step in the development of the cutting-edge technology.

Passed by the Nevada Legislature and signed by Governor Brian Sandoval, AB 69 aims to make the Silver State a leader in autonomous vehicle policy, research and development, including the testing and operation of fully-autonomous vehicles.

The legislation helps ensure that some of the biggest names in tech will be able to call Nevada home for the work necessary to make driverless technology a reality. AB 69 passed the legislature with wide support from the autonomous vehicle industry, including General Motors, the Self-Driving Coalition (Waymo, Uber, Lyft, Ford, Volvo), and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Story continued on next page »Governor Sandoval ushers in hands-free driving at UNR before signing AB 69 on June 16, 2017.

» New Law Keeps Nevada ‘at the Forefront’ in Race for Self-Driving Technology (cont.)

AB 69:

• Simplifies and clarifies the legal authority to operate an autonomous vehicle on a highway. • Authorizes the use of driver-assistive platooning technology.• Authorizes the use of fully autonomous vehicles to provide transportation services by those licensed by

the Department of Motor Vehicles, Nevada Transportation Authority or Taxicab Authority.• Provides for the regulation of autonomous vehicle network companies.

Crafted with input from industry, the legislation creates the conditions to safely test autonomous vehicles in Nevada and allows for innovation by anticipating technological advances.

“With this new law supporting self-driving vehicles, the Nevada Legislature and Governor Sandoval have taken a big step forward in making the Silver State a leader in the development of this breakthrough technology. We hope other states follow Nevada’s lead,” said Paul Hemmersbaugh, chief counsel and public policy director, Transportation as a Service, at General Motors. “This legislation establishes Nevada as a leader in embracing self-driving vehicles and puts the people of Nevada at the forefront for the opportunity to realize the many benefits of self-driving vehicles – most importantly, enhancing safety by reducing crashes caused by human error and behavior.”

“AB 69 is an important step forward for self-driving in Nevada. We applaud Governor Sandoval and state lawmakers for enacting this crucial legislation, which will update existing statutes to permit the testing and commercial public deployment of fully self-driving vehicles while also supporting innovation and promoting competition,” said David Strickland, general counsel for the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets which is comprised by Ford, Lyft, Uber, Volvo Cars and Waymo (formerly the Google self-driving car project).

Read more about AB 69: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/79th2017/Bill/4750/Text

“Peloton Technology, a Silicon Valley-based vehicle automation and connectivity company, appreciates the leadership of the State of Nevada in fostering innovation in vehicle technology. We strongly support AB 69, and thank the Governor, legislature, and key stakeholders like the Nevada Trucking Association for working collaboratively to pass this legislation. This legislation will enable companies like Peloton Technology to operate truck platoons safely in the State of Nevada,” said Josh Switkes, founder and CEO, Peloton Technology.

“Safety is a shared responsibility, and our industry’s ability to advance important Automated Driving System (ADS) technology depends on a public policy balance that recognizes and supports innovation. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers are appreciative of Governor Sandoval’s leadership and outreach to develop legislation that includes local pre-emption, adopts definitions that track our industry’s SAE definitions, and allows for thorough testing activities to include a wide variety of climates, terrain, and traffic density, among many other variables,” said the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

The new law is one piece of the state’s larger strategy to become a hub for companies seeking to redefine transportation, from Tesla to Hyperloop One to Waycare and Nexar – two predictive analytics firms that recently launched pilot programs with the Nevada Center for Advanced Mobility (CAM), a GOED initiative.

The Waycare and Nexar pilots, six months and four years respectively, will in the near term enhance road safety by helping to prevent collisions and in the long term could provide data to enhance the operation of autonomous vehicles.

Record Set for Longest Drone Urban Package Delivery in U.S.A new record has been set in long-distance drone delivery. On May 5, 2017, a Nevada UAS Consortium (Team Roadrunner) set the record flying a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over 97 miles to Austin, Texas using cellular connectivity.

Launched from a central Texas urban location, the UAV flew a preplanned route through the National Airspace System (NAS) using a combination of mobile command and control, visual observer team, and stationary visual observers located across the flight route who were equipped with enhanced radios and cell phone communication. This allowed the UAV to be flown using a cellular communications link until it successfully landed and delivered its package.

Team Roadrunner consisted of the FAA-designated Nevada UAS Test Site (Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems [NIAS]), Volans-i UAS, Latitude UAS, AUV Flights Services, and ground and visual support provided by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide campuses.

NIAS Director Chris Walach stated after the flight, “This was the most challenging, logistically-intensive, and longest package delivery demonstration recorded to date using cellular technology in the NAS, and allowed us the opportunity to demonstrate innovative capability – a demonstration necessity for the UAS industry.”

Drone package delivery in an urban and remote environment is the wave of the future, and Nevada is leading and helping to grow this major commercial endeavor.

Governor Leads Trade Mission to South America Governor Brian Sandoval led a GOED trade mission to Panama, Peru, and Chile in July 2017, focused on Nevada’s efforts in higher education and research, water technology, mining, and tourism.

The Nevada Delegation included Steve Hill and the GOED international team representatives from each of the Nevada System of Higher Education’s research universities, WaterStart, Nevada tourism officials, and Nevada mining delegates. The mission took place from July 19 to July 30, 2017.

During the mission, the Governor and his delegation met with several key figures, including President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Republic of Peru, and President Michelle Bachelet, Republic of Chile.

Additionally, the delegation also met with: S.E. Roberto, minister of canal affairs for the Panama Maritime Authority; Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines; Ricardo Luna Mendoza, minister of foreign relations for the Republic of Peru; U.S. Ambassador to Peru, Brian A. Nichols; the Heads of Peruvian National Authority for Water Administration and Peruvian Ministry of Mining; the Peruvian Chamber of Commerce; and U.S. Ambassador to Chile, Carol Z. Perez.

Governor Sandoval discusses increasing trade between Nevada and Peru with President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.

North Las Vegas: The Kitty Hawk of HyperloopA history-making test on July 29 firmly established North Las Vegas as the Kitty Hawk of hyperloop when Hyperloop One sent its XP-1 pod as fast as 190 mph along 1,433 feet of track at the Apex Industrial Park.

Hyperloop One has now logged more time working with full-scale hyperloop transportation technology at its North Las Vegas site than anyone on the planet.

The company was incentivized by GOED to pick the Apex Industrial Park for its test track in December 2015. The experimental form of passenger and freight transportation is based in part on an open-sourced concept proposed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

UNLV’s International Gaming Institute Continues to Churn out New GamesThe International Gaming Institute (IGI) at UNLV continues to develop new and exciting gaming technologies for Nevada’s largest industry. In fact, through Knowledge Fund support, IGI has filed 39 patents, sold six IP options and has garnered significant financial support from the industry.

Recently, a new table game developed by a student in the institute’s Center for Gaming Innovation course is now live on the gaming floor at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

“Easy Jack” received regulatory approval and is currently in a 90-day trial period during which a licensee will be sought.

Workforce Development: Building a Life Sciences Career Pipeline A key piece in Nevada’s workforce development strategy — the Learn and Earn Advanced Career Pathway (LEAP) – now features a life sciences framework. Developed by GOED in conjunction with employers, students, job seekers, and educational institutions at every level, the framework clearly maps out the steps needed for careers in life sciences.

To ensure the framework meets the needs of prospective employers and employees, GOED staff worked with a wide-range of life science companies, including pre-clinical and clinical trial laboratory services, food manufacturing and quality control, biotech, and environmental testing laboratories to evaluate and review every certificate, credential and degree included in the career pathway. For more information on LEAP Life Sciences, contact GOED’s Carson City office at 775-687-9900.

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SOUTHERN LOCATION

September 19November 16

1pm

Governor’s Conference Room

Grant Sawyer Building, Las Vegas

The Capitol Assembly Chambers

Nevada Capitol Building, Carson City

Governor Brian Sandoval, Chairman

Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison

Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske

Mr. James Barrett, President, the JABarrett Company

Ms. Kathleen Drakulich, Attorney at Law, McDonald Carano Wilson

Mr. Dan Klaich, Voting member at-large

Mr. Rob Roy, CEO/Founder, Switch

Dr. Weldon (Don) Havins, MD, JD, Professor and Director of Medical Jurisprudence and Ophthalmology, Touro University Nevada

Dr. Thom Reilly, Chancellor, Nevada System of Higher Education

Mr. Don Soderberg, Director, Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation

Board Members