Conceptual Design of Interaction between Driver and Automated Trucks For Connection to a Platoon

Sammanfattning: The area of automated vehicles is currently emerging and the development of advanced automatic systems can be seen as an effort to better support humans by technology. Increased safety, reduction of emissions by fuel efficiency, increased comfort while driving and cooperation between vehicles by e.g. platooning (co-driving on a highway at close distances) is some of several benefits that are mentioned associated with automation in vehicles. Several challenges are also associated with the development of automated systems, such as creating a good interaction between the driver and the vehicle. The challenge is to develop a good user experience (UX) and a safe and simple interaction to better the chances of the driver using the automated functions, and thereby enable gaining the advantages associated with it. This thesis has focused on the area of human machine interaction (HMI) as a part of the European project AdaptIVe and has been conducted at ATR at Volvo GTT. The purpose of the thesis was to develop a concept for connection to a platoon initiated by the driver. The aim was to develop a concept that was perceived as novel (i.e. different than conventional solutions found in today’s trucks), coherent with the function of joining a platoon, and address user needs, HMI and UX aspects. The results were expected to contribute to finding new ways of interacting with trucks that could possibly be included into future Volvo trucks. The thesis was practiced through a user centred design process, divided into three phases; exploration, concept development and concept evaluation. The exploration phase explored the user, user environment and user needs, involved truck drivers, and defined use case and design criteria for the concept. The development phase was conducted to generate and select a concept based on the criteria. Expert users were involved in the ideation and selection. The concept evaluation was performed with lo-fi prototypes and expert users and, based on the results from the tests, improvements were made and a final concept was finished. The final concept ISSA is a concept for activation and connection to a platoon through swiping forward on an interactive lighted touch sensitive surface located in the middle of the steering wheel. The surface indicates by light when activation is possible and in which direction the swipe should be done. ISSA is also equipped with two lights, one at the bottom (manual mode) and one at the top (automatic mode) of the steering wheel. White light represents manual mode and blue light automatic mode. Additional information about available platoons, system state and lateral and longitudinal control is also given in the head-up display (HUD). ISSA addresses important criteria regarding user needs, HMI and UX. Results from the user test indicate that ISSA is easy to use and that it is perceived as safe. System status, intentions and transitions is indicated to be acknowledged by the users (given by information in HUD and mode indications on steering wheel). Results indicate that ISSA is perceived as easy to use, has good usability and that ISSA outperforms a conventional solution such as a button regarding novelty and pleasure of use. ISSA implies a new way of interaction between driver and automated trucks and is designed to be coherent with the function of connecting to a platoon in terms of transferring the control of the vehicle to the truck in front. ISSA fits into future truck driving, contributes to a good UX, has a familiar design and could contribute to the driver using the platooning function which enables gaining benefits associated with it.