Effects of Uncertain Trajectory Prediction Visualization in Highly Automated Vehicles on Trust, Situation Awareness, and Cognitive Load

Abstract

Automated vehicles are expected to improve safety, mobility, and inclusion. User acceptance is required for the successful introduction of this technology. One essential prerequisite for acceptance is appropriately trusting the vehicle's capabilities. System transparency via visualizing internal information could calibrate this trust by enabling the surveillance of the vehicle's detection and prediction capabilities, including its failures. Additionally, concurrently increased situation awareness could improve take-overs in case of emergency. This work reports the results of two online comparative video-based studies on visualizing prediction and maneuver-planning information. Effects on trust, cognitive load, and situation awareness were measured using a simulation (N=280) and state-of-the-art road user prediction and maneuver planning on a pre-recorded real-world video using a real prototype (N=238). Results show that color conveys uncertainty best, that the planned trajectory increased trust, and that the visualization of other predicted trajectories improved perceived safety.