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Systematic review: Automated vehicles and services for people with disabilities
Brad E Dicianno1, Sivashankar Sivakanthan2, S Andrea Sundaram2
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Human Engineering Research Laboratories, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) offer potential solutions for travel barriers faced by people with disabilities. However, current scientific evidence is limited, highlighting the need for tailored, accessible AV designs and further research across diverse disability groups.
Area of Science:
- Disability studies
- Transportation technology
- Human-computer interaction
Background:
- People with disabilities encounter significant obstacles in transportation.
- Autonomous vehicles (AVs) and associated services are emerging as potential solutions to enhance mobility.
- A comprehensive understanding of AV accessibility for diverse user groups is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the scientific and grey literature on autonomous vehicles (AVs) for people with disabilities.
- To identify current knowledge, research gaps, and future directions for accessible AV development and deployment.
- To inform policy and knowledge translation efforts.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of both scientific publications (n=35) and grey literature (n=37).
- Analysis of study types, focusing on evidence levels, content, and sources.
- Synthesis of findings related to opportunities, barriers, and research needs.
Main Results:
- Scientific evidence is sparse, primarily consisting of low-quality observational studies, qualitative research, and design reports.
- Grey literature covers a broad spectrum of disabilities and sources, indicating wider public and industry interest.
- Identified key opportunities and barriers for accessible and usable AVs and services, emphasizing the diversity of needs within the disability community.
Conclusions:
- Accessible and usable AV design must be tailored to the specific needs, circumstances, and preferences of diverse disability groups.
- Future research should prioritize participatory design, engineering studies, and higher-quality experimental evaluations.
- A holistic approach is needed, considering not only vehicle features but the entire travel journey for people with disabilities.
