Semi-Autonomus driving and its effect on Mode awareness and User experience

Purpose and goal

The aim of this research project is to investigate the principles and methods of designing and verifying a complete car with respect to various driver assistance functions and the transitions between them. The assumption is that an extraordinary user experience (UX) can be secure by creating clear division of responsibility between car and driver and thereby avoiding mode confusion. The project will focus on the attribute Digital User Experience where customer understanding, requirements definitions and virtual and physical verification methods are in focus.

Expected results and effects

Expected results from the project are to create new knowledge to understand how the future´s advanced autonomous and semi-autonomous systems should be designed to create the highest possible level of trust, safety and user experience (UX). The project will also lead to increased use of our driver assistance system. The project will result in tangible tools and methods for verifying mode-awareness and user experience during ongoing development projects.

Planned approach and implementation

The work is divided into four work packages. Respective packages have a research question attached to it and will take about a year to be completed. AP1 and 2 focus on state-of-the-art understanding and hypothesis testing. AP3 and 4 focus on requirement setting and verification. The project has been manned with both senior researchers from both industry and academy, a newly employed industrial PhD student and three graduate projects. Studies will be conducted in controlled test environments such as AstaZero, Hällered and simulators but also directly in traffic with real customers.