Human&vehicle-in-the-loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles: Conceptualization, realization, case-study, and lessons learned

For the successful market launch of automated vehicles (AVs), passengers must feel safe and sufficiently comfortable during automated rides. Considering these needs is essential when developing AVs. To investigate these needs during vehicle development, studies with participants can be conducted usi...

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Main Authors: Markus Steimle, Vanessa Stange, Mark Vollrath, Markus Maurer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198224002689
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author Markus Steimle
Vanessa Stange
Mark Vollrath
Markus Maurer
author_facet Markus Steimle
Vanessa Stange
Mark Vollrath
Markus Maurer
author_sort Markus Steimle
collection DOAJ
description For the successful market launch of automated vehicles (AVs), passengers must feel safe and sufficiently comfortable during automated rides. Considering these needs is essential when developing AVs. To investigate these needs during vehicle development, studies with participants can be conducted using test vehicles and driving simulators. The human&vehicle-in-the-loop (Hu&ViL) test method, initially introduced as “vehicle-in-the-loop” (ViL) for testing driver assistance systems, combines the advantages of test vehicles and driving simulators. However, this test method is hardly known and rarely used. New research revealed that the scope of the Hu&ViL test method can be extended to research questions related to automated driving. We describe the basic concept of this extended method and its implementation in a test vehicle. We investigate the interactions between an AV and vulnerable road users in urban mixed traffic from the passenger’s perspective in a case study consisting of five studies: one online video study, two driving simulator studies, and two Hu&ViL studies. We present selected results, compare them across the studies, and derive lessons learned from implementing and conducting the studies. While the patterns of results obtained in the video study and driving simulator study were replicated in the Hu&ViL study in the first scenario involving longitudinal vehicle acceleration, the vehicle dynamics of the real vehicle changed the pattern of results in the second scenario involving lateral vehicle acceleration. The Hu&ViL test method is suitable for investigating a variety of research questions from the perspective of human drivers and passengers of AVs.
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spelling doaj-art-f125e44ac62443ec9b845a7f8d3280ac2025-02-09T05:01:10ZengElsevierTransportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives2590-19822025-01-0129101282Human&vehicle-in-the-loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles: Conceptualization, realization, case-study, and lessons learnedMarkus Steimle0Vanessa Stange1Mark Vollrath2Markus Maurer3Technische Universität Braunschweig, Department of Vehicle Electronics, Hans-Sommer-Straße 66, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; Corresponding author.Technische Universität Braunschweig, Department of Traffic and Engineering Psychology, Gaußstraße 23, 38106 Braunschweig, GermanyTechnische Universität Braunschweig, Department of Traffic and Engineering Psychology, Gaußstraße 23, 38106 Braunschweig, GermanyTechnische Universität Braunschweig, Department of Vehicle Electronics, Hans-Sommer-Straße 66, 38106 Braunschweig, GermanyFor the successful market launch of automated vehicles (AVs), passengers must feel safe and sufficiently comfortable during automated rides. Considering these needs is essential when developing AVs. To investigate these needs during vehicle development, studies with participants can be conducted using test vehicles and driving simulators. The human&vehicle-in-the-loop (Hu&ViL) test method, initially introduced as “vehicle-in-the-loop” (ViL) for testing driver assistance systems, combines the advantages of test vehicles and driving simulators. However, this test method is hardly known and rarely used. New research revealed that the scope of the Hu&ViL test method can be extended to research questions related to automated driving. We describe the basic concept of this extended method and its implementation in a test vehicle. We investigate the interactions between an AV and vulnerable road users in urban mixed traffic from the passenger’s perspective in a case study consisting of five studies: one online video study, two driving simulator studies, and two Hu&ViL studies. We present selected results, compare them across the studies, and derive lessons learned from implementing and conducting the studies. While the patterns of results obtained in the video study and driving simulator study were replicated in the Hu&ViL study in the first scenario involving longitudinal vehicle acceleration, the vehicle dynamics of the real vehicle changed the pattern of results in the second scenario involving lateral vehicle acceleration. The Hu&ViL test method is suitable for investigating a variety of research questions from the perspective of human drivers and passengers of AVs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198224002689Automated vehicleDriving simulatorHuman factors researchHuman&vehicle-in-the-loopTest method
spellingShingle Markus Steimle
Vanessa Stange
Mark Vollrath
Markus Maurer
Human&vehicle-in-the-loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles: Conceptualization, realization, case-study, and lessons learned
Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Automated vehicle
Driving simulator
Human factors research
Human&vehicle-in-the-loop
Test method
title Human&vehicle-in-the-loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles: Conceptualization, realization, case-study, and lessons learned
title_full Human&vehicle-in-the-loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles: Conceptualization, realization, case-study, and lessons learned
title_fullStr Human&vehicle-in-the-loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles: Conceptualization, realization, case-study, and lessons learned
title_full_unstemmed Human&vehicle-in-the-loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles: Conceptualization, realization, case-study, and lessons learned
title_short Human&vehicle-in-the-loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles: Conceptualization, realization, case-study, and lessons learned
title_sort human vehicle in the loop test method in human factors research on automated vehicles conceptualization realization case study and lessons learned
topic Automated vehicle
Driving simulator
Human factors research
Human&vehicle-in-the-loop
Test method
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198224002689
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