Background
The progressive integration of automated driving systems into overall traffic is fundamentally changing the interaction between the parties involved, bringing with it both great opportunities and a great need for research. The gradual transfer of responsibility for the driving task from the driver to the automated system is also accompanied by the transfer of the communication- and interaction tasks with the outside world. The interaction between automated vehicles and non-automated road users is therefore particularly important for the safe integration of automated vehicles into road traffic. The success of this integration depends crucially on identifying possible challenges of the transition from human-guided to predominantly automated road traffic today and developing solutions for future problems.
In the DFG-funded research project “Migration of Road Vehicle Automation” (MiRoVA), five institutes are working on this topic over four years with a project volume of three million euro.
Aims
MiRoVA aims to comprehensively analyze and model the effects of the technical migration of automated vehicles. Both the macroscopic level (the proportion of automated vehicles in total traffic), and the microscopic level (the change between different levels of automation) are being considered.
The analysis covers central aspects of the interaction between humans and automated vehicles and covers processes such as perception and decision-making as well as communication and cooperation. The Institute of Ergonomics IAD focuses on the analysis of the bilateral interactions between the automated vehicle and the non-automated road user.
Method
Using a multi-phase, iterative approach, models are developed to describe the interaction between non-automated participants and automated vehicles. These models are incrementally extended to include macroscopic and microscopic factors of automation migration. Interaction processes and communication concepts are analyzed comprehensively through observational studies, surveys, and experiments. To this end, different scenarios are examined in test environments such as driving simulators, virtual reality and naturalistic environments. The continuous validation of the models by experts from the fields of human factors, psychology and vehicle automation ensures that the models can be applied to real traffic.
Expected Results
MiRoVA aims to comprehensively analyze and model the effects of the technical migration of automated vehicles. Both the macroscopic level (the proportion of automated vehicles in total traffic), and the microscopic level (the change between different levels of automation) are being considered.
The analysis covers central aspects of the interaction between humans and automated vehicles and covers processes such as perception and decision-making as well as communication and cooperation. The IAD focuses on the analysis of the bilateral interactions between the automated vehicle and the non-automated road user.
Technical University of Darmstadt
Funding
The project is being funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) over four years with a project volume of three million euros, of which around 0.5 million euros are allocated to the Institute for Ergonomics & Human Factors of TU Darmstadt.
