ELDER-3: Empowering Lifelong Driving Experiences with SAE Level 3 Automation
Automated vehicles (AVs) are heralded as the future of transportation. The Society of Automotive Engineers categorizes six levels of AV, with levels 1 and 2 already in operation, and level 3 undergoing mass production testing in North America. Level 3 marks a significant advancement, as drivers can engage in non-driving related tasks (NDRT), but must be prepared to take over control of the vehicle at all times. However, level 3 AVs pose significant cognitive and motor demands during take-over requests (TOR) in older drivers with intact cognition, suggesting that take-over maneuvers may be even more challenging for older adults with cognitive impairment (CI). This study aims to determine the impact of CI on take-over performance in level 3 AVs. Participants (30 older drivers with intact cognition, and 30 older drivers with CI) will engage in level 3 AV driving using a high-fidelity driving simulator while their eyes are tracked for attention and cognitive workload. During the drive, the TOR will require participants to quickly transition from an NDRT to taking over control of the vehicle. Additionally, participants will complete a clinical battery of cognitive, visual, and motor tests. We hypothesize that older adults with CI will exhibit: (1) slower response to TOR; (2) reduced attention (glances on screen) and increased drowsiness (eyelid closure) before TOR; and (3) heightened cognitive workload (pupillary response) during and after the TOR. In hypothesis (4), we expect that a combination of clinical tests including reaction time, processing speed, and working will predict take-over performance.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $171,035.00
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348307
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Sponsor Organizations:
Washington DC,
United States
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Mid-America Transportation Center
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2200 Vine Street, PO Box 830851
Lincoln, NE United States 68583-0851 -
Project Managers:
Stearns, Amy
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Performing Organizations:
University of Kansas, Lawrence
Transportation Research Institute
2117 Learned Hall, 1530 W 15th Street
Lawrence, KS United States 66045 -
Principal Investigators:
Devos, Hannes
Bhattacharya, Shelley
Akinwuntan, Abiodun
- Start Date: 20240601
- Expected Completion Date: 20260630
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Autonomous vehicle handover; Cognitive impairment; Driving behavior; Driving simulators; Level 3 driving automation
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01972420
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Mid-America Transportation Center
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348307
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Nov 21 2025 2:20PM