Driver Monitoring for a Driver-Centered Design and Assessment of a Merging Assistance System Based on V2V Communications.

Sofia Sánchez–Mateo,Elisa Pérez–Moreno,Felipe Jiménez

doi:10.3390/s20195582

Sofia Sánchez–Mateo, Elisa Pérez–Moreno + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/s20195582

Copy DOI

Abstract

Merging is one of the most critical scenarios that can be found in road transport. In this maneuver, the driver is subjected to a high mental load due to the large amount of information he handles, while making decisions becomes a crucial issue for their safety and those in adjacent vehicles. In previous works, it was studied how the merging maneuver affected the cognitive load required for driving by means of an eye tracking system, justifying the proposal of a driver assistance system for the merging maneuver on highways. This paper presents a merging assistance system based on communications between vehicles, which allows vehicles to share internal variables of position and speed and is implemented on a mobile device located inside the vehicle. The system algorithm decides where and when the vehicle can start the merging maneuver in safe conditions and provides the appropriate information to the driver. Parameters and driving simulator tests are used for the interface definition to develop the less intrusive and demanding one. Afterward, the system prototype was installed in a real passenger car and tests in real scenarios were conducted with several drivers to assess usability and mental load. Comparisons among alternative solutions are shown and effectiveness is assessed.

Highlights

In recent years, studies have focused on the design and development of Advanced DriverAssistance Systems (ADAS) because human error is considered to be a major factor in traffic accidents, estimated to be 94% compared to other causes such as vehicles, the environment, and unknown critical reasons [1]
This paper proposes a system for providing information to the driver in merging maneuvers, which is a safe–critical situation
In order to assess the suitability of the driver assistance system, the experiments from real driving were evaluated in the same conditions as in the driving simulator, by means of eye tracking and a questionnaire that summarizes aspects of usability, acceptability, and mental load, but a questionnaire on mental effort was introduced

Summary

Introduction

Studies have focused on the design and development of Advanced DriverAssistance Systems (ADAS) because human error is considered to be a major factor in traffic accidents, estimated to be 94% compared to other causes such as vehicles, the environment, and unknown critical reasons [1]. While it is true that many of these technologies have made driving safer and more comfortable, reducing road accidents [3], there are many complex scenarios in which risk situations can happen that have not been covered yet. Situations, such as merging, lane departure, and roundabouts, require a very manual and intuitive control for the driver, where there is a lack of knowledge of the intentions and maneuvers of other vehicles and where the same situation will never occur due to the driving style of each driver. Developing an appropriate interface is a key Sensors 2020, 20, 5582; doi:10.3390/s20195582 www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion