RICHMOND, Va. — In addition to recognition from TIME Magazine and Popular Science, a Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) innovation has been named a Gold Winner in the 2026 Edison Awards. The Automated Road Test System (ARTS), developed in partnership with Sapios, earned top honors at the global innovation competition.
The award follows an 18-month feasibility study led by the Virginia DMV to evaluate the potential for automating road skills testing. ARTS is a first-of-its-kind platform that uses cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence to assess driving performance. The system records how drivers handle driving maneuvers such as turns, stops, and lane changes, providing consistent, data-driven feedback without an examiner in the vehicle.
Across 300 pilot tests conducted at three DMV customer service centers in Richmond, Fairfax, and Christiansburg, ARTS demonstrated a 97% agreement rate with human examiners and did not pass any applicant who had been failed by an examiner.
“We are proud to have helped shape this milestone, and even prouder that innovation born and tested here in Virginia is setting a national standard,” said DMV Commissioner Dr. Gerald F. Lackey. “This work reflects what is possible when public service, technology, and innovation come together to improve how government serves its citizens.”
Sapios received the award at a ceremony in Fort Myers, Fla., on April 17, alongside Commissioner Lackey. ARTS won Gold in the Transportation, Aerospace & Flight category. The Edison Awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of Innovation,” recognize breakthrough products and solutions that transform how people live, work, and play.
This recognition builds on earlier honors from TIME Magazine and Popular Science. TIME included ARTS among its Best Inventions of 2025, while Popular Science named it one of the Top 50 Innovations in 2025 in the automotive category of its “Best of What’s New” awards.
Together, these recognitions highlight Virginia DMV’s commitment to exploring emerging technologies that may streamline operations and improve customer experience.