PAsCAL · Project

Tools to Measure and Boost Public Acceptance of Self-Driving Vehicles

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Most people are still nervous about getting into a car that drives itself — and that fear is the biggest bottleneck for the entire autonomous vehicle industry. PAsCAL spent 36 months figuring out exactly what scares people, what reassures them, and how to bridge that gap. They built a self-assessment tool called Cross Skill™ and simulation-based training modules so drivers, instructors, and professional operators can practice with autonomous systems before hitting the road. Think of it as a flight simulator, but for the transition to self-driving cars — giving people hands-on experience that turns anxiety into confidence.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries represented

month project duration

industry partners in the consortium

total project deliverables

40%

industry ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

The autonomous vehicle industry has a people problem, not just a technology problem. Consumers, professional drivers, and regulators remain skeptical about self-driving cars, and no amount of engineering excellence will drive adoption if the public does not trust the technology. Companies launching AV services need proven methods to measure, understand, and improve public acceptance — or risk expensive rollouts that sit idle.

The solution

What was built

The project built Cross Skill™, a self-assessment tool for measuring acceptance dimensions of autonomous vehicles, adapted by LIST for the project's needs. It also produced tested simulation-based training solutions and training modules for drivers, driving instructors, certificators, and professional drivers, with documented trial results. In total, 23 deliverables were produced across acceptance measurement, scenario modeling, and real-world validation.

Audience

Who needs this

Autonomous vehicle manufacturers planning consumer launch campaignsRobo-taxi and autonomous shuttle operators entering new citiesDriving schools and fleet training providers preparing for AV certificationMotor insurance companies developing AV risk modelsCity transport authorities evaluating autonomous public transit

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive & Mobility Services

enterprise

Target: Autonomous vehicle manufacturers and robo-taxi operators

If you are an autonomous vehicle company struggling with low consumer trust — this project developed the Cross Skill™ self-assessment tool and simulation-based training modules tested with drivers, driving instructors, and professional drivers. These tools help you identify and address the specific acceptance barriers your customers face, shortening the path from pilot to mass-market adoption.

Insurance & Risk Assessment

enterprise

Target: Motor insurance companies covering autonomous vehicles

If you are an insurer trying to price policies for connected and autonomous vehicles — this project mapped public attitudes, concerns, and behavioral responses across 7 European countries with 15 consortium partners. Their acceptance models and real-world trial data can help you build risk profiles that account for how human drivers actually interact with autonomous systems, not just how the technology performs in isolation.

Driver Training & Certification

SME

Target: Driving schools and professional driver training academies

If you are a driving school or fleet training provider needing to prepare instructors and professional drivers for autonomous vehicles — this project built and tested simulation-based training solutions and training modules specifically for drivers, driving instructors, and certificators. These ready-made curricula let you offer AV-readiness courses without building training content from scratch.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or use PAsCAL's tools?

Licensing terms for the Cross Skill™ tool and training modules are not published in the project data. Since this was a publicly funded Research and Innovation Action, some outputs may be openly available while others could require licensing from the consortium. Contact the coordinator at Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology for pricing.

Can these tools scale to national or EU-wide deployment?

The project was designed for large-scale penetration from the start, with service providers in the consortium reaching millions of members and several thousand customers across the EU. The 15-partner consortium across 7 countries means the tools were already validated in multiple national contexts.

Who owns the intellectual property — can I build on this?

The Cross Skill™ tool was developed by LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology) and adapted for PAsCAL. IP ownership typically follows Horizon 2020 rules where each partner owns the results they generate. You would need to negotiate licensing directly with LIST for Cross Skill™ and with relevant partners for the training modules.

Is this just academic research or something I can actually use?

The project produced tested simulation-based training solutions with documented results from trials with real drivers, driving instructors, certificators, and professional drivers. The Cross Skill™ tool is a working self-assessment instrument. These are functional tools, not just papers — though they may need adaptation for your specific commercial context.

How long would it take to integrate these tools into my operations?

Based on available project data, the simulation-based training modules were tested and documented by month 24 of the project, and Cross Skill™ was delivered at month 39. Integration timelines would depend on your existing infrastructure, but the tools were designed for practical use by driving instructors and professional drivers, suggesting reasonable deployment complexity.

Does this cover regulatory requirements for autonomous vehicles?

The project addressed public acceptance barriers including regulatory concerns, but it is primarily a behavioral and training toolkit rather than a regulatory compliance solution. It assessed the impact of connected transport on well-being, quality of life, and equity — factors that regulators increasingly consider when setting AV policy.

Consortium

Who built it

The 15-partner consortium across 7 countries (BE, DE, EE, FR, IT, LU, UK) has a strong industry presence at 40% with 6 industry partners alongside 5 universities and 1 research organization. The coordinator, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, is a well-established public research organization. With 2 SMEs in the mix, the consortium balances research depth with commercial orientation. The inclusion of service providers with reach to millions of members across the EU suggests the project was designed with real-world deployment in mind, not just academic output. For a business looking to license or partner, the diverse country mix means the tools have been exposed to multiple regulatory and cultural contexts — valuable for anyone planning cross-border AV rollout.

LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYCoordinator · LU
INETUM REALDOLMEN BELGIUMparticipant · BE
AUTOMOBILE CLUB D ITALIAparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE BELFORT - MONTBELIARDthirdparty · FR
UNIVERSITAET MANNHEIMparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDSparticipant · UK
THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOLparticipant · UK
COMMUNAUTE D' UNIVERSITES ET ETABLISSEMENTS UNIVERSITE BOURGOGNE - FRANCHE - COMTEparticipant · FR
LUXMOBILITYparticipant · LU

How to reach the team

Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Luxembourg — developed the Cross Skill™ tool

Order a report on this consortium See LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the PAsCAL team to discuss licensing the Cross Skill™ tool or training modules for your AV rollout? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right technical contact.

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