Human factors issues for automated vehicles

Abstract

Technological innovations are enabling road vehicles to operate at increasing levels of autonomy, gradually moving the allocation of control of the driving task away from the human. Automated vehicle systems are intended to improve driving, whether it be by avoiding potential collisions, reducing congestion, cutting mileage or easing driver workload. Combining multiple systems increases the level of vehicle automation, eventually resulting in fully-autonomous, or ‘driverless’, vehicles. This move towards automated driving fundamentally changes the driver's role, from operator to monitor, but the human is often pushed ‘out of the loop’ by technology as a result. This study examines key human factors issues for automated vehicles, focusing on ‘levels of automation’, changes in driver–vehicle interactions, the influence of individual differences, and interaction design for automated cars. The research shows that there are many challenges for designers, manufacturers and users of automated vehicles. Importantly, drivers must be supported in understanding and accepting their changing role within the vehicle and wider road network. Unpredictable and undesirable behaviours may well emerge with the introduction of new technologies in the car, but opportunities for new interactions will also be uncovered during the transition from manual to automated control over the coming years.