Get ready for automated driving using Virtual Reality

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Automotive Engineering
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Conditionally automated vehicles allow secondary activities but require timely driver response to system limitations.
• Effective driver interaction with automated systems is critical for road safety.
• Risk-free training environments are essential for familiarizing drivers with complex automated vehicle technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of a light Virtual Reality (VR) training program for developing driver interaction skills in automated cars.
• To compare the efficacy of light VR training against a user manual and a fixed-base simulator.
• To assess both objective performance metrics and subjective user preferences.

Main Methods:

• Sixty subjects were randomly assigned to one of three training conditions: light VR, user manual, or fixed-base simulator.
• Participants underwent a training phase followed by a test drive in a high-end driving simulator.
• Objective take-over performance and self-reported measures were collected.

Main Results:

• The training system significantly impacted driver take-over performances.
• Light VR training was preferred by users compared to the user manual and fixed-base simulator.
• Virtual Reality demonstrated a strategic role in defining metrics for driver interaction profiling.

Conclusions:

• Light VR offers an effective and preferred method for training drivers in automated vehicle interaction.
• VR technology is valuable for developing standardized metrics to assess driver behavior in automated driving scenarios.
• Accessible VR training solutions can enhance road safety by improving driver proficiency with new automotive technologies.