Keynote address: On the use of communication-based cooperative systems to improve situation awareness

Abstract

Cooperative systems, also known as V2I and V2V-based, are becoming increasingly important in meeting the demand for safer and more advanced driving assistance systems. Research on wireless networks to support inter-vehicular communications has made great advances. Cooperative systems will significantly enhance and increase driver's ability to be aware, anticipate and react to crash risk situations. Provision of such enhanced capabilities must meet the wellestablished features of existing wireless network systems, such as robust scalability and reliability but, more importantly cater for driver's needs, cognitive and physiological limitations. There has been much work in the area of driver's situation awareness in recent years. Situation awareness is the primary basis for subsequent driver's decision-making and performance in the operation of complex driving tasks such as maneuvering or anticipation. However there is still a gap between the two research fields despite their potentials to improve road safety. This talk will highlight interdisciplinary research issues at the frontier of cooperative systems and human cognition. The focus will be on drivers' situational awareness needs/capabilities and how cooperative systems can address them with the view to improve road safety.