Research

Lead Researcher(s)

Anuj Pradhan
Former Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Project Abstract

The main objective of this project was to undertake the development of an experimental driving-simulation platform to enable research studies to gather
evidence and increase the scientific understanding of human factors issues related to vehicle automation. The research aimed to gather empirical data to help inform the design of automated vehicles and their driver interfaces, and improve understanding of the basic issues of expectation, trust, acceptance, and performance. The first phase included building automated-driving capabilities into the U-M Transportation Research Institute simulator, including driver/vehicle modeling, algorithm development and integration, and testing. The second phase used the simulator to examine fundamental human-factors research questions through experiments examining driver responses and behavior during simulated transfer of control from an AV to the driver. Driver behavior and responses were recorded using the simulator data logging systems, as well as other integrated systems such as eye tracking and audio/video recording.

Project Outcome

A unique and important outcome of the experimental aspects of the study was the identification and development of specific and relevant scenarios
that presented takeover situations with a high level of ecological validity for experimental studies.