Researchers study human reaction to sharing control with driverless car

The 'handover', when the control of the car switches

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from human driver to autonomous mode, is one of the least studied aspects of this developing technology. However, the interaction between the human driver and the car is a vital component in taking the new technology forward to a stage where it can be safely and successfully deployed on public roads.

The first trials tested drivers in a static simulator and in the Venturer driverless car, on private roads at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). Under controlled conditions at speeds up to 20mph, participating drivers were first instructed in the use of the vehicle and their reactions measured in response to instruction to switch to driverless mode and take back control of the car. The data collected from these initial trials will be used to provide the groundwork for the next stage of testing and trials in the project.

Tony Meehan (Consultancy Director, Atkins) says that in the long term AVs can bring great benefits, but getting the user-interface right is key. He said, "Autonomous vehicles are going to be a global phenomenon and it's absolutely critical that the UK and the West of England economy are able to benefit from this new global industry.

"Developing the technology and the skills needed to introduce something as radical as autonomous vehicles is crucial, but being at the forefront of this huge challenge is also about regulation, insurance, safety and maximising the benefits of autonomous vehicles. This project is trying to plug the gap between technology, the road network and the user.

"The research is looking at how users interact with an as yet unknown piece of kit - how they react when confronted with different situations and when confronted with a piece of kit that looks and feels very familiar but is really radically different."

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2016-10-human-reaction-driverless-car.html#jCp