Human Factors of Level 3 Automation: Surprise Event Response Evaluation​ (VTTI-00-033)

Project Description: An increasing number of conditionally automated driving (CAD) systems are being developed by major automotive manufacturers. In a CAD system, the automated system is in control of the vehicle within its operational design domain. Therefore, in CAD the vehicle is capable of tactical control of the vehicle and can maneuver evasively by braking or steering to avoid objects. During these evasive maneuvers, the driver may attempt to take back control of the vehicle by intervening. A driver interrupting a CAD vehicle while properly performing an evasive maneuver presents a potential safety risk. To investigate this issue, 36 participants were recruited to participate in a Wizard-of-Oz research study. The participants experienced one of two evasive maneuvers on the Virginia Smart Roads test track. The evasive maneuver required the CAD system to brake or steer to avoid a box placed in the lane of travel of the test vehicle. Data Scope: The dataset includes kinematic data for the 36 study participants. Additionally, behavioral data, including eye glance and interaction with the vehicle controls, is included 34 participants were obtained via annotation of the video data. Data were collected from event start to event end. Event start was defined as when the test vehicle reached a predetermined landmark ~106 meters before the object placed in the roadway. Event end was defined as when the vehicle velocity reached 0 mph for the braking maneuvers or when the front of the vehicle was even with the object, as determined by the front video view, for the swerving maneuvers. Data Specification: Please see the VTTI-00-033_Eye_Glance-Data_Dictionary.xlsx and VTTI-00-033_Maneuver_Response-Data_Dictionary.xlsx files below.