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External Human-Machine Interfaces for Autonomous Vehicle-to-Pedestrian Communication: A Review of Empirical Work.
Alexandros Rouchitsas1, Håkan Alm1
1Humans and Technology Division, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
Frontiers in Psychology
|January 11, 2020
Summary
Autonomous vehicles require new ways for cars to communicate with pedestrians. External human-machine interfaces improve safety, but standardized designs are still needed.
Area of Science:
- Human-computer interaction
- Traffic safety engineering
- Autonomous systems
Background:
- Traditional driver-pedestrian communication relies on informal cues like eye contact and gestures.
- Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will shift occupants to passive roles, eliminating direct human interaction.
- This necessitates advanced interfaces for AVs to convey intent to pedestrians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review empirical research on external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs) for AV-to-pedestrian communication.
- To synthesize findings on the effectiveness of these interfaces in enhancing traffic safety and efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of empirical studies on eHMIs for AVs.
- Analysis of interface designs and their impact on pedestrian interactions.
- Evaluation of communication effectiveness and safety outcomes.
Main Results:
- Most studies show that eHMI systems significantly benefit pedestrian interactions with AVs.
- Participants demonstrated improved understanding and safer behavior when AVs used communication interfaces.
- Effectiveness varied based on interface design and context.
Conclusions:
- External human-machine interfaces are crucial for safe AV integration.
- Standardized evaluation methods and optimal interface specifications are currently lacking.
- Further research is needed to develop universally effective AV-pedestrian communication systems.
