Arie Paul van den Beukel

The influence of time-criticality on Situation Awareness when retrieving human control after automated driving

When applying automated driving as a means for congestion assistance, developers are challenged how to accommodate the transitions between automated and manually driving, especially because these transitions might occur regularly and suddenly. During automated driving, the ability to take over control is also aggravated due to the driver being placed out of the control-loop. To assess then the ability to retrieve human control, we tested within a driver simulator experiment the influence of criticality (available time) on Situation Awareness (SA) gained during time-critical take-overs within a scenario of congested driving. Though one of the applied measurement methods did not show the expected effect of SA on successfulness of taking back control, the results show that drivers are able to successfully retrieve control, also within time-critical situations. Furthermore, the results show that the ability to retrieve control is positively influenced if drivers gain increased levels of SA.

Retrieving human control after situations of automated driving: HOw to meaure Situation Awareness

When applying automated driving as a means for congestion assistance, developers need to account for regular and sudden transitions between automation and manual control. To assess then the ability to retrieve human control, we tested within a driver simulator experiment how Situation Awareness (SA) gained during time-critical take-overs, and based on a simulation freeze technique (SAGAT) and SA queries (SART), could be measured. The results show that drivers are able to build up SA in these time-critical situations. With regard to measurement method, only SART showed positive correlation with successfulness in retrieving control. Nonetheless, the applied measurement method showed to allow future selection of support types drivers are in need for when retrieving control after automation.

How to assess driver's interaction with partially automated driving systems - A framework for early concept assessment

The introduction of partially automated driving systems changes the driving task into supervising the automation with an occasional need to intervene. To develop interface solutions that adequately support drivers in this new role, this study proposes and evaluates an assessment framework that allows designers to evaluate driver-support within relevant real-world scenarios. Aspects identified as requiring assessment in terms of driver-support within the proposed framework are Accident Avoidance, gained Situation Awareness (SA) and Concept Acceptance. Measurement techniques selected to operationalise these aspects and the associated framework are pilot-tested with twenty-four participants in a driving simulator experiment. The objective of the test is to determine the reliability of the applied measurements for the assessment of the framework and whether the proposed framework is effective in predicting the level of support offered by the concepts. Based on the congruency between measurement scores produced in the test and scores with predefined differences in concept-support, this study demonstrates the frameworks reliability. A remaining concern is the frameworks weak sensitivity to small differences in offered support. The article concludes that applying the framework is especially advantageous for evaluating early design phases and can successfully contribute to the efficient development of drivers in-control and safe means of operating partially automated vehicles.

Human-centered challenges and contributions for the implementation of automated driving

Automated driving is expected to increase safety and efficiency of road transport. With regard to the implementation of automated driving, we observed that those aspects which need to be further developed especially relate to human capabilities. Based on this observation and the understanding that automation will most likely be applied in terms of partially automated driving, we distinguished 2 major challenges for the implementation of partially automated driving: (1) Defining appropriate levels of automation, and; (2) Developing appropriate transitions between manual control and automation. The Assisted Driver Model has provided a framework for the first challenge, because this model recommends levels of automation dependent on traffic situations. To conclude, this research also provided brief directions on the second challenge, i.e. solutions how to accommodate drivers with partially automation

Evaluation of ADAS with a supported-Driver Model for desired Allocation of Tasks between Human and Technology Performance

Partly automated driving is relevant for solving mobility problems, but also cause concerns with respect to driver’s reliability in task performance. The presented supported driver model is therefore intended to answer in which circumstances, what type of support enhances the driver’s ability to control the vehicle. It became apparent that prerequisites for performing tasks differ per driving task’s type and require different support. The possible support for each driving task’s type has been combined with support-types to reduce the error causations from each different performance level (i.e. knowledge-based, rule-based and skill-based performance). The allocation of support in relation to performance level and driving task’s type resulted in a supported driver model and this model relates the requested circumstances to appropriate support types. Among three tested ADAS systems, semi-automated parking showed best allocation of support; converting the demanding parallel parking task into a rather routine-like operation.

Driving automation & changed driver's task - effect of driver-interfaces on intervention

Driving automation leads to a changed role for drivers, i.e. supervision, including now and then intervention - a role that humans are not particularly good at. New driver-vehicle interfaces can support drivers in their changed role. We tested three interface-concepts incorporating different type of stimuli to steer attention and evoke response. This study examined specifically the effects on driver-intervention to avoid collision after automation was terminated. Neither the audio-tactile interface combined with illumination, nor the audio-visual interface, revealed to provide additional intervention-support compared to a base-line audio interface. The results contribute to a better understanding of applying multimodality for developing adequate support and suggest that richer stimuli might negatively influence performance due to startle-responses and/or distraction. Richer stimuli feedback might however be beneficial within the broader spectrum of the changed drivers role (e.g. supervision) - for which further research is planned.

Driving automation interface design: supporting drivers' changing role

Driving automation aims to enhance driving comfort and increase road efficiency. But in doing so it changes the driver’s role from actively operating the vehicle to supervising the system with the occasional necessity to intervene. The irony in this is that, while enhanced with automation, supervision is not a role humans are particularly good at. The aim of this study is to assess how drivers can be supported in their changing role. To evaluate potential improvements in driver support an assessment framework is designed and evaluated. Tests with five concepts provide insight in different interface features that support the driver. It shows that especially supervision benefits from coloured illumination of edges around the windscreen and side windows. Further design recommendations are taken from the tests’ results. While automated driving is intended to improve safety and raise comfort, this thesis addresses the persisting need to support the change in role of the driver. By doing so it delivers an important contribution to a more prevalent human-centred development of a future range of automated vehicles intended to take benefits from raised comfort and safety.