Introduction of Human-Machine Interaction for Urban Environments

Abstract

In the German national funded UR:BAN project numerous assistance functions supporting the driver in longitudinal and lateral vehicle guidance control up to preventing accidents by warning the driver or making evasive manoeuvres autonomously are considered in order to contribute to improve safe, comfortable, and energy‐efficient driving in urban areas. Especially, the design of the human‐machine‐interfaces (HMIs) of all the applications together faces many challenges. For example, urban traffic is compared to highways and rural roads more complex and dynamic due to different infrastructure and the interaction with other road users (e. g. crossing vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists). Thus, information, warning, and system intervention concepts should be designed to minimize the conflict between the complexity of urban traffic situations and the driver’s limited cognitive information processing by keeping understanding and trust in such assistance systems. The subproject “Human‐Machine Interaction for Urban Environments” (named “Stadtgerechte Mensch‐Maschine‐Interaktion”) addresses the development and design of HMIs of this range of driver assistance systems. The central goal of the subproject is to design user‐oriented, integrative HMI concepts of current and future assistance systems by considering the challenges and needs in urban areas. In total, nine project partners – Adam Opel AG, AUDI AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, Daimler AG, MAN Truck & Bus AG, Technische Universitat Braunschweig, Technical University of Munich, Universitat der Bundeswehr Munchen, and Volkswagen AG – rise to this challenge.