Defining the Standard for Highway-Speed AV Safety

Blue Dynamics Consulting represents the convergence of cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial leadership, and real-world engineering expertise. Founded by Dr. Evan Lowe, we specialize in emergency obstacle avoidance systems, simulation-based validation, and regulatory compliance for ADAS and autonomous vehicle technologies. We don't just follow safety standards—we define them.

Research That Shapes Regulation

With a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, Dr. Lowe has dedicated his career to solving the most critical challenge in autonomous driving: how vehicles make split-second decisions at high speeds to avoid collisions while maintaining passenger safety and vehicle stability. His groundbreaking work addresses emergency maneuvers in complex highway environments—a critical safety capability that current regulations and industry standards have not yet fully addressed.

The GOACA Framework: Setting the New Standard

While the industry has focused heavily on low-speed urban mobility, highway-speed safety remains underregulated. Dr. Lowe's most significant contribution, published in Electronics (December 2024), introduces the General Obstacle Avoidance Capability Assessment (GOACA)—a rigorous, system-level framework designed to evaluate how autonomous vehicles handle split-second emergencies at high speeds and under challenging road conditions.

Unlike traditional component-level testing, GOACA provides full-stack assessment, testing the synergy between sensing, perception, and vehicle dynamics. This framework evaluates AVs in high-stakes highway scenarios including cut-ins, cut-outs, and perpendicular encroachments involving both vehicles and vulnerable road users (VRUs). Through a weighted scoring rubric that prioritizes collision avoidance while rewarding effective damage mitigation, GOACA provides organizations with the metrics needed to quantify safety, mitigate collision risks, and prepare for the next generation of federal AV standards.

Modernizing Federal Safety Standards

Dr. Lowe's research extends beyond creating new standards to modernizing existing ones. His work published by SAE International (2019) addresses a critical gap: while FMVSS 126 has been the benchmark for Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for decades, it was never designed for autonomous vehicles. His research introduces a framework to automate these critical safety tests for Level 3+ autonomous vehicles, moving from reactive stability control to proactive avoidance strategies.

This work demonstrates expertise in safety-critical control, designing complex supervisory logic using advanced co-simulation environments (Matlab/Simulink/CarSim) to validate vehicle behavior at the limits of adhesion. The research advocates for a shift from component-level testing to holistic, system-level safety validation—ensuring an AV's entire decision-making pipeline performs flawlessly when split-second choices determine outcomes.

Full-Stack Understanding of Safety-Critical Systems

Dr. Lowe's comprehensive state-of-the-art review on Emergency Obstacle Avoidance Maneuvers (EOAM) establishes his expertise across the entire autonomous vehicle pipeline. This research, published on arXiv (2021), focuses on the critical integration of decision-making, trajectory generation, and vehicle dynamics at high speeds, providing a roadmap for developing AV systems that can exceed human performance in time-critical scenarios.

This work demonstrates deep knowledge across: safety-critical path planning that remains robust under high-speed constraints, hierarchical control system architecture design, high-dynamics vehicle modeling (ABS, ESC, active suspension), and human-to-machine performance benchmarking. The research bridges the gap between sensing/perception and high-speed actuation, providing a framework for fail-safe autonomous maneuvering.

Entrepreneurial Leadership & Industry Experience

Before founding Blue Dynamics Consulting, Dr. Lowe gained diverse experience across research, corporate development, and entrepreneurial ventures:

Columbus Ai (Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer) – As co-founder and COO of this ADAS/AV technology startup, Dr. Lowe led end-to-end development and validation of ML-based autonomous systems. He managed data collection and sensor integration pipelines for training driving algorithms, was responsible for complete test planning, execution, and reporting for full-scale validation of prototype autonomous capabilities, and managed cross-functional teams of engineers and software developers. This experience provided invaluable startup leadership skills, from pitching to venture capitalists and angel investors to managing day-to-day technical operations and product development.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence – As Autonomous Applications Engineer, he provided technical consulting and simulation expertise for major OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, managing complex customer projects and defining validation methodologies for ADAS/AV systems using MIL/SIL/HIL/DIL frameworks. He served as project manager for multiple automotive OEM and Tier One customer service projects and influenced technical roadmaps for Virtual Test Drive (VTD) feature development based on customer needs and market trends.

Honda R&D Americas – As a Vehicle Dynamics Chassis Control Engineer, he developed comprehensive test plans and performed physical validation testing for traction control and all-wheel-drive systems, with a focus on safety-critical fault analysis aligned with ISO 26262 standards. He advanced simulation capabilities through software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop development, directly supporting vehicle development programs.

Mechanical Simulation Corporation – He created industry-leading examples for CarSim and TruckSim software, demonstrating ADAS capabilities including Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assistance Systems (LKAS), and compliance with Euro NCAP standards. He provided direct consulting-style technical support for OEM and Tier One users, guiding simulation-based development strategies.

Innovation Protected by Patents

Dr. Lowe's provisional patent application (No. 63/724,318, filed November 23, 2024) covers innovative systems and methods for deploying and validating emergency obstacle avoidance frameworks on production autonomous vehicles. This patent bridges the gap between research and real-world implementation, detailing the computational architecture needed to execute complex maneuvers on automotive-grade hardware through offline optimization and real-time lookup table execution.

Our Mission: Safety, Education, Community

Blue Dynamics Consulting is driven by three core commitments:

Advancing Safety Through Regulation & Compliance – We work to influence the development of next-generation safety standards by collaborating with regulatory bodies, industry consortia, and standards organizations like SAE International. Our goal is to ensure that high-speed emergency obstacle avoidance becomes a mandatory safety requirement for all autonomous vehicles.

Inspiring the Next Generation – We're passionate about getting young people excited about automotive engineering, ADAS technology, and the future of mobility. Through educational programs, mentorship, and industry partnerships, we help nurture the next generation of automotive innovators.

Empowering Drivers of All Ages – We believe that understanding ADAS technology shouldn't be reserved for engineers. Through community education events and training programs, we help drivers of all generations understand how to safely engage, disengage, and recognize the limitations of advanced driver assistance systems in their vehicles.

Why Choose Blue Dynamics Consulting

When you work with Blue Dynamics Consulting, you're partnering with the authority on high-speed emergency obstacle avoidance for autonomous vehicles. We possess the rare combination of deep academic research, startup leadership experience, and Fortune 500 engineering expertise needed to navigate the complex landscape of AV safety.

Whether you're an OEM preparing for future regulatory requirements, a Tier 1 supplier optimizing your ADAS systems, or a dealership looking to train your team on the latest safety technologies, Blue Dynamics Consulting provides the expertise, frameworks, and strategic guidance you need to succeed in the rapidly evolving world of autonomous mobility.