Using Simulation to Study Communication between Autonomous Vehicles and Vulnerable Road Users

Autonomous vehicle (AV) technology is advancing at a rapid pace. One concern that has come to the forefront is how AVs will communicate and interact with vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists. The goal of this project is to use a pedestrian simulator to examine how pedestrians learn to respond to visual cues about whether AVs acknowledge them at a crosswalk and intend to yield to them, in both daytime and nighttime conditions. The research team will use a cue-learning approach in which participants learn through experience about AV cues signaling awareness and intention. The task for participants is to stand at the edge of a crosswalk at a 4-way stop and cross without colliding with a vehicle. The team will use a between-participants design to examine how pedestrians respond to cues from autonomous vehicles. In the gaze-directing condition, the vehicle “eyes” will direct their gaze toward the participant to signal acknowledgement. In the attention-getting condition, the vehicle “eyes” will flash on and off to signal acknowledgement. The team expects that it will be easier for pedestrians to learn about the meaning of cues in the gaze-directing condition because the gaze-directing cues mimic eye contact between real drivers and pedestrians and the attention-getting cues do not clearly communicate “go” to the pedestrian. This research will fill a critical gap in understanding of communication between autonomous vehicles and vulnerable road users that can be used to increase pedestrian safety and inform vehicle design.

• Record URL:
  http://safersim.nads-sc.uiowa.edu/research_new.php?sp=76
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Received 6 mo. no-cost extension due to COVID-19

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $80000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747131

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Iowa, Iowa City

  National Advanced Driving Simulator, 2401 Oakdale Blvd
  Iowa City, IA  United States  52242-5003
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Iowa

  MacLean Hall
  Iowa City, Iowa  United States  52240
• Principal Investigators:

  Plumert, Jodie

  Kearney, Joseph

• Start Date: 20190601
• Expected Completion Date: 20210630
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Crosswalks; Eye movements; Pedestrian safety; Pedestrians; Simulation; Vulnerable road users
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01699000
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Safety Research Using Simulation University Transportation Center (SaferSim)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747131
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 20 2019 9:15AM