Maximilian Schwalm

Acquisition of spatial knowledge in location aware mobile pedestrian navigation systems

In this paper we regard the navigation aid provided by mobile navigation systems in a real environment and the effects of these mobile assistants to the development of spatial knowledge. Therefore, we report on a user study concerning the acquisition of spatial knowledge. This study sets up on a former study described by Krüger and colleagues and sheds light on problems concerning the acquisition of survey knowledge while being navigated by a mobile handheld PC.

Public Perception and Acceptance of Electric Vehicles: Exploring Users’ Perceived Benefits and Drawbacks

In this research, we describe an empirical study, which aimed at identifying influencing factors on acceptance of electric vehicles. Understanding individual arguments and to reach a high usage rate of these vehicles in the public and a broad acceptance, the identification of possible pro-using motives as well as perceived drawbacks is essential, which would allow a sensitive and individually-tailored communication and information policy. Using an exploratory approach, a questionnaire study was carried out in which participants were requested to indicate the level of acceptance and the intention to use electric cars. The questionnaire items were taken from several focus groups, which had been carried out prior to the questionnaire study. Outcomes show that the traditional car is perceived still as much more comfortable, and receives a high trustfulness in comparison to electric cars. In addition, user diversity in terms of age and gender was found to considerably the perceived benefits and barriers. Female users but also aged persons show a higher level of acceptance, which might be due to their higher environmental consciousness in contrast to male persons and younger participants. Interestingly, the self-reported level of domain knowledge (significantly higher in men) did not show a large influence on the level of acceptance.

Uncanny and Unsafe Valley of Assistance and Automation: First Sketch and Application to Vehicle Automation

Progress in sensors, computer power and increasing connectivity allow to build and operate more and more powerful assistance and automation systems, e.g. in aviation, cars and manufacturing. Besides many benefits, new problems occur e.g. in human-machine-interaction. In the field of automation, e.g. vehicle automation, a comparable, metaphorical design correlation is implied, an unsafe valley e.g. between partially- and highly-automated automation levels, in which due to misperceptions a loss of safety could occur. This contribution sketches the concept of the (uncanny and) unsafe valley of automation, summarizes early affirmative studies, gives first hints towards an explanation of the valley, outlines the design space how to secure the borders of the valley, and how to bridge the valley.

Derivation of a Model of Safety Critical Transitions between Driver and Vehicle in Automated Driving

In automated driving, there is the risk that users must take over the vehicle guidance despite a potential lack of involvement in the driving task. This publication presents an initial model of control distribution between users and the automated system. In this model, the elements of the control distribution in automated driving are addressed together with possible and safe transitions between different driving modes. Furthermore, the approach is initially empirically validated. In a driving study, in which participants operated both driving and a non-driving related task, objective driving data as well as eye-tracking parameters are used to estimate the model’s accuracy. Such an explanatory model can serve as a first approach to describe potential concepts of cooperation between users and automated vehicles. In this way, prospective road traffic concepts could be improved by preventing safety critical transitions between the driver and the vehicle.

Better (not) Charge in Your Garage! Perceived Benefits and Optimal Positioning of Public Fast Charging Infrastructure for Electrical Vehicles from User’s Perspective

In order to increase the number of electrical vehicles (EV) in Germany, a nationwide distribution of public charging stations is intended to improve the perception of EV usage potential. These can be equipped with novel fast charging technology. To examine the users’ needs and deduce potential locations for charging stations, users of EV are interviewed with focus on acceptance of detours, the necessary back-up battery SOC (state of charge), and, as conclusion of both, the user’s preference for home or public charging. Finalizing, factors of perceived effort and perceived benefit in public charging are evaluated. It can be shown that the positioning of public charging is not yet sufficient, but has to be improved. This can be deducted from the backed-up battery SOC which is left to manage long detours to public charging infrastructure.

Inverting Traditional Views on Human Task-Processing Behavior by Focusing on Abilities Instead of Disabilities --- A Discussion on the Functional Situation Management of Drivers to Solve Demanding Situations

Due to the well-elaborated limitations of cognitive processing, humans can process only a certain number of tasks in parallel. Notably in the context of driving this poses a serious problem when performing additional tasks while driving. Statistically, drivers perform other tasks while driving in over 50i¾?% of the time but drive approximately 3.8i¾?million kilometers before experiencing a severe accident. Hence, besides the undoubted negative influence of non-driving related tasks on driving, appropriate abilities are required to succeed even in most critical driving situations. Until today, little is known about these abilities. To gain further insight, the present paper dwells on the development of a framework based on elaborated cognitive models. Its central claim concerns proactive functional situation management based on situation assessment and task prioritization. A driving simulation study is reported to support the framework. Further, it is discussed how this approach could be applied to fields of HMI.

Identification of Criteria for Drivers’ State Detection

Even though drivers may perform driving-unrelated activities during automated driving, they must be ready to resume the driving task dependent on the level of automation. With the ultimate aim of guaranteeing safe takeovers, automated driving systems at certain levels of automation need to assess drivers’ readiness to take over preliminary to a transition based on driver monitoring systems. In order to optimize current methods of drivers’ state detection, the present work tries to investigate the idea of a human-based driver observation. It is strived to find first answers to the question, whether and which benefits such an approach would offer, i.e. whether criteria identified by human observation can serve for drivers’ state detection systems. In this context, it was attempted to identify and define possible levels of involvement into the driving task. Furthermore, a study was conducted to find first criteria based on human observation for the levels’ detection that in the future might be examined using existing technical methods.

Das (unheimliche und) unsichere Tal der Assistenz und Automation - Beschreibung und Absicherungsmöglichkeiten

Zusammenfassung Fortschritte in der Automatisierungstechnik ermöglichen es technischen Systemen immer mehr Aufgaben zu übernehmen. Für die Gestaltung der Interaktion und Kooperation von Mensch und Maschine ist die Einschätzung des Menschen bzgl. der Fähigkeiten der Maschine sicherheitsrelevant. Das Uncanny Valley der Robotik beschreibt, wie Roboter mit hoher, aber nicht perfekter Menschenähnlichkeit als unheimlich wahrgenommen werden. Bestehende Studien, z. B. für Luft- und Bodenfahrzeuge, deuten an, dass es einen ähnlichen Zusammenhang zwischen Automationsgrad und Sicherheit geben könnte, da sich zwischen gut funktionierenden teil- und hochautomatisierten Modi ein unsicheres Tal bildet, in welcher die Sicherheit des Systems stark reduziert ist. Es werden Gestaltungsoptionen beschrieben, um diesen Bereich abzusichern.

Evaluation of a Vehicle Exterior’s Sportiness Under Real vs. Virtual Conditions

In order to identify a customer’s liking, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive industry conduct so-called car clinics. Contemporary car clinics, however, generate great expenses as real prototypes are required.