Research project to record the “real world reactions” to a driver-less vehicle

From https://www.arlnow.com/2017/08/08/morning-notes-1720/

"VT Says It Is Behind ‘Driverless’ Van — The “driverless” van seen driving around Clarendon over the past week was actually a Virginia Tech research project designed to record the “real world reactions” to a vehicle without a driver. However, there was a driver: a man dressed as a car seat. The mystery was solved in real time on Twitter yesterday and quickly went viral."