Human Factors in Automated Driving Scenarios: Assessment of Research, Technology & Concepts

Although the concept of a fully automated driving system as envisioned under the Automated Highway System program has yet to be realised, technological advancements over the past decade have led to the emergence of advanced driver assistance systems and features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), collision warning, automatic braking, and lane-keeping assist systems. To date, deployed systems and features have largely been designed to support safe operations rather than to relieve the driver of direct vehicle control. Advancements in driver assistance systems (eg: ACC and lane-keeping assist) may provide some of the early building blocks for future automated driving systems that assume either partial or full authority from the driver. Although automated systems offer the promise of increased safety and reduced human error, substantive human factors challenges need to be addressed before these forms of automated systems become a practical reality. These challenges include the potential for negative adaptations occurring through misunderstanding of, misuse of, or overreliance on the system, or changes in attention and distraction from the driving task. Another concern is how an automated system will impact drivers’ information-processing capabilities and level of workload, including their willingness to engage in non-driving-related secondary tasks. Automation may also impact a driver’s situational awareness – including the ability to perceive critical factors in the environment or to detect system state changes (system failures) – as the driver’s role shifts from active vehicle control to passive monitoring of the automated system and environment, and path planning down the road. This book assesses the research, the technology and the concepts behind automated driving.