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Usability testing of three visual HMIs for assisted driving: How design impacts driver distraction and mental models
Mickaël J R Perrier1, Tyron L Louw1, Oliver M J Carsten1
1Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Ergonomics
|October 19, 2022
Summary
This study compared three visual human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for adaptive cruise control (ACC) systems. Design recommendations are provided to improve driver understanding and reduce distraction when using ACC.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Automotive Engineering
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Vehicle manufacturers utilize diverse visual human-machine interfaces (HMIs) to support drivers supervising driving automation features like adaptive cruise control (ACC).
- Current HMI designs offer limited information about ACC systems, creating uncertainty about their impact on driver distraction and mental model development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how different HMI designs affect driver distraction and mental model accuracy for ACC systems.
- To propose design modifications for HMIs to enhance driver understanding and reduce distraction.
Main Methods:
- A user-centered design (UCD) approach was employed to create a novel speedometer HMI.
- Usability testing was conducted in a low-fidelity driving simulator with 23 participants using ACC.
- Data collection included eye-tracking, response times, and qualitative feedback to compare three HMI designs.
Main Results:
- The developed speedometer HMI yielded mixed results regarding its intuitiveness and informativeness.
- Analysis revealed specific areas for improvement in indicating set target speed, headway distance, and system mode (conventional vs. adaptive cruise).
Conclusions:
- Heterogeneous HMI designs for ACC systems can differentially impact driver distraction.
- Design recommendations are proposed to optimize the display of speed, time gap, and system mode for more efficient driver interaction and improved user experience (UX).
