Evangelos Bekiaris

Driver–Vehicle–Environment Monitoring for On-board Driver Support Systems: Lessons Learned From Design and Implementation

This paper is presenting the efforts to implement in real time and for on-board applications a set of Driver-Vehicle-Environment (DVE) monitoring modules based on the theoretical work done in DVE modelling within the EC 6th FW co funded AIDE Integrated Project. First the need for such an implementation will be discussed. Then the basic DVE modelling principles will be introduced and analysed. Based on that and on the overview of the theoretical work performed around the DVE modelling, the real time DVE monitoring modules developed in this project will be presented and analysed. To do this the DVE parameters needed to allow the required functionalities will be discussed and analysed. Special attention will be given to the use cases and scenarios of use for the real time DVE modules. This allows the reader to understand the functionalities that these modules enable in tomorrows vehicles that will integrate a large degree of automation supported by advanced integrated and adaptive human machine interfaces (HMIs). The paper will also present examples of the functional and technical tests and validation results for some of the DVE modules. The paper will conclude with a discussion around the lessons learned about the design and implementation of such systems. This will include also the next steps and open issues for research in order for these systems to become standard modules in tomorrows vehicles.

DRIVABILITY: a new concept for modelling driving performance

Various types of driver models have been proposed in the literature, such as taxonomic, functional, and motivational. Recently, the promising Michon model was extended, leading to the widely used GADGET matrix. Nevertheless, the correlation of such models to actual road accidents and their causes has so far been weak. In addition, the use of those models for predicting driver behavioural adaptation has not proven feasible. This paper introduces a new concept for modelling drivers performance, that of DRIVABILITY. DRIVABILITY is defined as a combination of permanent and temporary factors that affect a drivers performance. Furthermore, this paper proposes a DRIVABILITY index and a methodology to measure it, in order to move from over-simplistic, hierarchical modelling to a multi-dimensional sphere. The usability of the newly proposed concept is shown through its application in three different example cases, including a system monitoring driver hypovigilance, a system for driver basic training, and an elderly drivers assessment scheme.

SAFERIDER Project: New safety and comfort in Powered Two Wheelers

In the last ten years, European Commission has deeply investigated the concern of Powered Two Wheelers (PTW) accidents in the European roads, trying to focus on the improvement of road safety through the introduction of Intelligence Transportation Systems. Several new European research projects involving PTWs have been promoted by EC to resolve this gap: SAFERIDER aiming to enhance rider safety, comfort and, hopefully, reduce fatalities. Four Advanced Riding Assistance Systems (ARAS, or so called in literature ADAS, with Driver instead of Rider) and four In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVIS) will be designed, studied and validated to create a new vehicle concept , with high technical and innovation values. To reach this goal, a priori in-depth accident analyses are performed to discover causes and most common scenarios leading to accidents. Following this, the development of a common architecture able to host ARAS and IVIS is on progress and will be finalized in the next months. To close the loop between vehicle and rider, Human Machine Interface (HMI) concepts are designed and implemented in different ways [1]. A major innovation and breakthrough of the SAFERIDER project, lies with the fact being the first project that considers the integration of several sub-systems on PTWs.

Communication and interaction strategies in automotive adaptive interfaces

Nowadays, drivers have to cope with a growing amount of information coming from on-board information messages, telematics and advanced driver assistance systems. The interaction between the driver and these systems is critical, since they may distract the driver from the primary task of driving. The paper, addressing this problem, aims at presenting the methodological framework for the optimization of human machine interfaces (HMI) in the automotive research area; thus, the proper communication and interaction strategies are designed, in order to deliver to the driver a message or a warning in the optimal way in terms of driver safety. The proposed methodology is adopted in the COMUNICAR project and relevant results are presented. Last but not the least, the AIDE integrated project and its vision is also proposed as the roadmap for future activities in the HMI sector.

The OASIS Concept

OASIS is an Integrated Project with the aim to revolutionise the interoperability, quality, breadth and usability of services for all daily activities of the elderly, by developing and deploying innovative technological challenges, consisting of a new, open architecture and a hyper-ontological framework. A wide range of applications are integrated in the areas of independent living, socialization, autonomous mobility and smart workplaces. User friendliness and acceptability of OASIS services are a top priority of the project, ensured with a user-centered design approach and the development of interactive services.

Modelling Driver Behaviour in European Union and International Projects

Human (or operator) modelling has been an extensive area of research in many application areas, such as artificial intelligence, aviation, probabilistic risk assessments, system safety analysis and human performances in working contexts (Cacciabue et al., 1993; Baron et al., 1980). Still, human behaviour is fairly contextual and substantially different from one person to another. Thus, the initial linear models have been gradually replaced by nonlinear and even probabilistic models, based upon artificial intelligence (AI) principles, such as artificial neural networks or genetic algorithms. This becomes even more intrigued if we consider a complex behavioural task such as vehicle driving.

Towards Open Access Accessibility Everywhere: The ÆGIS Concept

The current paper presents the concept of AEGIS Integrating Project (Grant Agreement: 224348), which aims to embed support for accessibility into every aspect of ICT-including the pre-built user-interface components, developers tools, software applications and the run-time environment, and via embeddable assistive technologies. AEGIS is a 3,5 years project, aiming to constitute a breakthrough in the eInclusion area, through the development of an Open Accessibility Framework, upon which open source accessibility interfaces and applications for the users as well as accessibility toolkits for the developers will be built. Three mainstream markets are targeted, namely the desktop, rich Internet applications and mobile devices/applications market segments.

Elderly and disabled travelers needs in infomobility services

Within ASK-IT project, an extensive survey of the needs of elderly and disabled travelers using infomobility services has been performed. More specifically, 39 past and on-going research projects have been reviewed, having a common aim to ASK-IT. The user needs that have emerged after the testing of the developed systems are highlighted in this document for the transport and tourism areas. Results do not refer only to the visual and acoustical HMI of systems and services for information provision while traveling, but also to the content and the design aspects of the HMI, in order to satisfy accessibility.

A UCD Approach towards the Design, Development and Assessment of Accessible Applications in a Large Scale European Integrated Project

AEGIS (Open Accessibility Everywhere: Groundwork, Infrastructure, Standards) is a user-centred project, involving several user groups (users with visual, hearing, motion, speech and cognitive impairments as well as application developers) throughout the design, development and assessment phases. In this paper the holistic UCD (User Centred Design) approach of the project is introduced. This approach ensures that the projects objectives to determine whether 3rd generation access techniques will provide a more accessible, more exploitable and deeply embeddable approach in mainstream ICT applications (desktop, rich Internet and mobile applications) are met, with the full support and involvement of a huge end-user group in every single step of the design, development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT.

Auto-Personalization: Theory, Practice and Cross-Platform Implementation

In an increasing digital society, access to information and communication technologies (ICT) is no longer just helpful but has become a necessity. However, the human interfaces appearing on these ICT (and increasingly, even common household products) are beyond of the abilities of many people with disability, digital literacy, or aging related limitations. Access to these ICT is essential to these individuals yet it is not possible to create an interface that is usable by all. This paper introduces a new approach to auto-personalization that is based on the development of the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII). The GPII is a new international collaborative effort between users, developers and industry to build a sustainable infrastructure to make access to all digital technologies technically and economically possible, including access by users who are unable to use or understand today’s technologies. Based on a one-size-fits-one approach, the GPII uses auto-adapting mainstream interfaces, and ubiquitous access to assistive technologies when mainstream interfaces cannot adapt enough, to provide each user with the interface they need. The GPII has three main components: a mechanism to allow individuals to easily discover which interface variations they need and then store it in a secure way on a token or in the cloud; a mechanism to allow them to use these stored needs and preferences to automatically adapt the interfaces on the digital technologies they encounter, anywhere and anytime; and a resource for developers (mainstream and assistive technology) providing the information and tools required to develop, disseminate, and support new access solutions more simply, more quickly, and at lower cost.