Driver Monitoring for a Driver-Centered Design and Assessment of a Merging Assistance System Based on V2V Communications

Abstract

Merging is one of the most critical scenarios that can be found in road transport. In this maneuver, the driver is subjected to a high mental load due to the large amount of information he handles, while making decisions becomes a crucial issue for their safety and those in adjacent vehicles. In previous works, it was studied how the merging maneuver affected the cognitive load required for driving by means of an eye tracking system, justifying the proposal of a driver assistance system for the merging maneuver on highways. This paper presents a merging assistance system based on communications between vehicles, which allows vehicles to share internal variables of position and speed and is implemented on a mobile device located inside the vehicle. The system algorithm decides where and when the vehicle can start the merging maneuver in safe conditions and provides the appropriate information to the driver. Parameters and driving simulator tests are used for the interface definition to develop the less intrusive and demanding one. Afterward, the system prototype was installed in a real passenger car and tests in real scenarios were conducted with several drivers to assess usability and mental load. Comparisons among alternative solutions are shown and effectiveness is assessed.

A Study of Bibliometric Trends in Automotive Human–Machine Interfaces

“…In terms of assisted driving, Sofia Sánchez-Mateo et al, proposed a merge assist system based on inter-vehicle communication that allows the sharing of position and speed variables between vehicles. This system was implemented on a mobile device within a vehicle, and the associated algorithm determined when and where the vehicle can perform a merging operation under safe conditions while providing appropriate information to the driver [17].…”

Lane change decision aid and warning system using LoRa-based vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology

“…Sachez-Mateo et al [17] describes a merging aid system based on vehicle communication that enables sharing of internal variables like position and speed. The algorithm that manages the data from V2Vcommunications and from a digital map has been installed in a smartphone that acts as the driver interface.…”

Evaluación de modelo determinista para conducción autónoma a través del comportamiento visual

“…Uno de los sistemas más utilizados por su ligereza y comodidad en conducción es el seguimiento visual, ya que la información adquirida por el conductor precede a los procesos cognitivos siendo capaz de anticipar las decisiones de un conductor a través de su atención. De igual forma, el comportamiento ocular aporta información sobre la aceptabilidad y distracción de sistemas, siendo extensamente utilizado en la evaluación de sistemas avanzados de asistencia al conductor (ADAS) [18][19] [20] [21].…”