Preface to the Special Issue on Human Factors and Advanced Vehicle Automation: Of Benefits, Barriers, and Bridges to Safe and Effective Implementation

Author(s):  
William J. Horrey ◽  
John D. Lee

Objective The aim of this special issue is to bring together the latest research related to driver interaction with various types of vehicle automation. Background Vehicle technology has undergone significant progress over the past decade, bringing new support features that can assist the driver and take on more and more of the driving responsibilities. Method This issue is comprised of eight articles from international research teams, focusing on different types of automation and different user populations, including driver support features through to highly automated driving systems. Results The papers comprising this special issue are clustered into three categories: (a) experimental studies of driver interactions with advanced vehicle technologies; (b) analysis of existing data sources; and (c) emerging human factors issues. Studies of currently available and pending systems highlight some of the human factors challenges associated with the driver–system interaction that are likely to become more prominent in the near future. Moreover, studies of more nascent concepts (i.e., those that are still a long way from production vehicles) underscore many attitudes, perceptions, and concerns that will need to be considered as these technologies progress. Conclusions Collectively, the papers comprising this special issue help fill some gaps in our knowledge. More importantly, they continue to help us identify and articulate some of the important and potential human factors barriers, design considerations, and research needs as these technologies become more ubiquitous.

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-483
Author(s):  
Hidehisa Yoshida ◽  
Pongsathorn Raksincharoensak

The Science Council of Japan’s 2008 Report, “Aiming for a Zero Traffic Accidents Society,” states that “it is necessary to establish various driver assistance technologies based on the fact that most drivers make mistakes”; “for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technologies, cooperation between human operation and machine assistance, and social acceptability need to be evaluated”; and “new driver assistance by introduction of robotics technology and application of automated driving in specific operating domain should be considered in the near future.” A wide array of robotic technologies is expected to contribute to developing intelligent and advanced technologies for passenger and transport vehicles, as well as creating a rich future for the transportation of people and logistics. Over the past decade, researchers and engineers have attempted to achieve these goals. In 2015, the government announced a policy to make practical use and deployment of automated driving technologies by the year of Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Now, looking toward the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, we organized a special issue of the JRM: “Innovative Robotics and Mechatronics Technology of Modern Passenger Cars for Zeroing Traffic Accidents.” This special issue features 16 papers carefully written and reviewed by field specialists. We express our heartfelt appreciation to the authors and reviewers who have contributed their expertise to this issue. We would also like to thank the members of the Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics board for giving us the unique opportunity to coordinate this issue.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 609-609
Author(s):  
Hidehisa Yoshida ◽  
Manabu Omae ◽  
Takahiro Wada

Intelligent automobiles equipped with active safety methods whose objective is to reduce accidents caused by human problems such as careless driving and loss of consciousness, have got the social acceptance widely which are recognized by introducing collision avoidance brakes to the market. Active safety and automated driving technologies of intelligent automobiles were featured at TokyoMotor Show 2015. Their displays attracted much attention.It is necessary to propose new technologies continuously by the technical subject of active safety and automated driving, for example, relation of cooperative driving by a vehicle system and a driver, from the restrictions of originality of technical developments and the liability issues at the time of an accident.Even so, users worldwide expect much from the dynamic future of transportation for safety and active life.This special issue features seven papers carefully reviewed by field specialists.I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the authors who have contributed their valuable research results to this special issue and to the reviewers who provided their invaluable expertise.I would also like to thank members of the Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics board for giving me the unique opportunity to plan and coordinate this issue.


Information ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 403
Author(s):  
Frederik Naujoks ◽  
Sebastian Hergeth ◽  
Andreas Keinath ◽  
Nadja Schömig ◽  
Katharina Wiedemann

Today, OEMs and suppliers can rely on commonly agreed and standardized test and evaluation methods for in-vehicle human–machine interfaces (HMIs). These have traditionally focused on the context of manually driven vehicles and put the evaluation of minimizing distraction effects and enhancing usability at their core (e.g., AAM guidelines or NHTSA visual-manual distraction guidelines). However, advances in automated driving systems (ADS) have already begun to change the driver’s role from actively driving the vehicle to monitoring the driving situation and being ready to intervene in partially automated driving (SAE L2). Higher levels of vehicle automation will likely only require the driver to act as a fallback ready user in case of system limits and malfunctions (SAE L3) or could even act without any fallback within their operational design domain (SAE L4). During the same trip, different levels of automation might be available to the driver (e.g., L2 in urban environments, L3 on highways). These developments require new test and evaluation methods for ADS, as available test methods cannot be easily transferred and adapted. The shift towards higher levels of vehicle automation has also moved the discussion towards the interaction between automated and non-automated road users using exterior HMIs. This Special Issue includes theoretical papers a well as empirical studies that deal with these new challenges by proposing new and innovative test methods in the evaluation of ADS HMIs in different areas.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinar Yazgan ◽  
Deniz Eroglu Utku ◽  
Ibrahim Sirkeci

With the growing insurrections in Syria in 2011, an exodus in large numbers have emerged. The turmoil and violence have caused mass migration to destinations both within the region and beyond. The current "refugee crisis" has escalated sharply and its impact is widening from neighbouring countries toward Europe. Today, the Syrian crisis is the major cause for an increase in displacement and the resultant dire humanitarian situation in the region. Since the conflict shows no signs of abating in the near future, there is a constant increase in the number of Syrians fleeing their homes. However, questions on the future impact of the Syrian crisis on the scope and scale of this human mobility are still to be answered. As the impact of the Syrian crisis on host countries increases, so does the demand for the analyses of the needs for development and protection in these countries. In this special issue, we aim to bring together a number of studies examining and discussing human mobility in relation to the Syrian crisis.


Author(s):  
Б.И. Гельцер ◽  
Э.В. Слабенко ◽  
Ю.В. Заяц ◽  
В.Н. Котельников

Одним из основных требований к разработке экспериментальных моделей цереброваскулярных заболеваний является их максимальная приближенность к реальной клинической практике. В работе систематизированы данные по основным методам моделирования острой ишемии головного мозга (ОИГМ), представлена их классификация, анализируются данные о преимуществах и недостатках той или иной модели. Обсуждаются результаты экспериментальных исследований по изучению патогенеза ОИГМ с использованием различных моделей (полной и неполной глобальной, локальной и мультифокальной ишемии) и способов их реализации (перевязка артерий, клипирование, коагуляция, эмболизация и др.). Особое внимание уделяется «стабильности» последствий острого нарушения мозгового кровообращения: необратимых ишемических повреждений головного мозга или обратимых с реперфузией заданной продолжительности. Отмечается, что важное значение в этих исследованиях должно принадлежать современным методам прижизненной визуализации очагов острого ишемического повреждения, что позволяет оценивать динамику патологического процесса. Предлагаемый метод отвечает требованиям гуманного обращения с животными. Подчеркивается, что выбор релевантной модели ОИГМ определяется задачами предстоящего исследования и технологическими ресурсами научной лаборатории. Development of experimental models for acute forms of cerebrovascular diseases is essential for implementation of methods for their prevention and treatment. One of the principal requirements to such models is their maximum approximation to actual clinical practice. This review systematized major models of acute cerebral ischemia (ACI), their classification, and presented information about their advantages and shortcomings. Also, the review presented results of experimental studies on pathophysiological mechanisms of different types of modeled ACI (complete and incomplete global, local, and multifocal ischemia) and methods for creating these models (arterial ligation, clipping, coagulation, embolization, etc.). Particular attention was paid to “stability” of the consequences of acutely impaired cerebral circulation - an irreversible ischemic brain injury or a reversible injury with reperfusion of a given duration. The authors emphasized that in such studies, a special significance should be given to intravital imaging of acute ischemic damage foci using modern methods, which allow assessing the dynamics of the pathological process and meet the requirements to humane treatment of animals. The choice of a relevant ACI model is determined by objectives of the planned study and the technological resources available at the research laboratory.


Author(s):  
Niklas Grabbe ◽  
Michael Höcher ◽  
Alexander Thanos ◽  
Klaus Bengler

Automated driving offers great possibilities in traffic safety advancement. However, evidence of safety cannot be provided by current validation methods. One promising solution to overcome the approval trap (Winner, 2015) could be the scenario-based approach. Unfortunately, this approach still results in a huge number of test cases. One possible way out is to show the current, incorrect path in the argumentation and strategy of vehicle automation, and focus on the systemic mechanisms of road traffic safety. This paper therefore argues the case for defining relevant scenarios and analysing them systemically in order to ultimately reduce the test cases. The relevant scenarios are based on the strengths and weaknesses, in terms of the driving task, for both the human driver and automation. Finally, scenarios as criteria for exclusion are being proposed in order to systemically assess the contribution of the human driver and automation to road safety.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 479
Author(s):  
Irina Sokolik

This Special Issue aims at addressing the recent developments towards improving our understanding of the diverse radiative impact of different types of aerosols and clouds [...]


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2506
Author(s):  
Wamidh H. Talib ◽  
Ahmad Riyad Alsayed ◽  
Alaa Abuawad ◽  
Safa Daoud ◽  
Asma Ismail Mahmod

Melatonin is a pleotropic molecule with numerous biological activities. Epidemiological and experimental studies have documented that melatonin could inhibit different types of cancer in vitro and in vivo. Results showed the involvement of melatonin in different anticancer mechanisms including apoptosis induction, cell proliferation inhibition, reduction in tumor growth and metastases, reduction in the side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, decreasing drug resistance in cancer therapy, and augmentation of the therapeutic effects of conventional anticancer therapies. Clinical trials revealed that melatonin is an effective adjuvant drug to all conventional therapies. This review summarized melatonin biosynthesis, availability from natural sources, metabolism, bioavailability, anticancer mechanisms of melatonin, its use in clinical trials, and pharmaceutical formulation. Studies discussed in this review will provide a solid foundation for researchers and physicians to design and develop new therapies to treat and prevent cancer using melatonin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4264
Author(s):  
Matúš Šucha ◽  
Ralf Risser ◽  
Kristýna Honzíčková

Globally, pedestrians represent 23% of all road deaths. Many solutions to protect pedestrians are proposed; in this paper, we focus on technical solutions of the ADAS–Advanced Driver Assistance Systems–type. Concerning the interaction between drivers and pedestrians, we want to have a closer look at two aspects: how to protect pedestrians with the help of vehicle technology, and how pedestrians–but also car drivers–perceive and accept such technology. The aim of the present study was to analyze and describe the experiences, needs, and preferences of pedestrians–and drivers–in connection with ADAS, or in other words, how ADAS should work in such a way that it would protect pedestrians and make walking more relaxed. Moreover, we interviewed experts in the field in order to check if, in the near future, the needs and preferences of pedestrians and drivers can be met by new generations of ADAS. A combination of different methods, specifically, an original questionnaire, on-the-spot interviewing, and expert interviews, was used to collect data. The qualitative data was analyzed using qualitative text analysis (clustering and categorization). The questionnaire for drivers was answered by a total of 70 respondents, while a total of 60 pedestrians agreed to complete questionnaires concerning pedestrian safety. Expert interviews (five interviews) were conducted by means of personal interviews, approximately one hour in duration. We conclude that systems to protect pedestrians–to avoid collisions of cars with pedestrians–are considered useful by all groups, though with somewhat different implications. With respect to the features of such systems, the considerations are very heterogeneous, and experimentation is needed in order to develop optimal systems, but a decisive argument put forward by some of the experts is that autonomous vehicles will have to be programmed extremely defensively. Given this argument, we conclude that we will need more discussion concerning typical interaction situations in order to find solutions that allow traffic to work both smoothly and safely.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document