Allocation of Visual Attention during Transition from Vehicle Automation

This research aimed to investigate how the way drivers allocate their visual attention across their environment affects their process of decision-making about a resumption of control from vehicle automation. It also aimed to investigate how different factors such as the involvement of the driver with the decision-action loop; situation kinematics and presence of supportive information affect this relationship between gaze and decision. This research’s motivation came from an inherent issue on the topic of the transition of control: The high amount of spread visual information required from the driver to perform a manual intervention safely. This issue forces the driver to prioritise certain information over others, which may lead to different outcomes for their take-over reaction. There is a lack of empirical evidence showing the link between the way drivers sample information and their abilities to perform an appropriate transition of control. By understanding how drivers should look to enhance their decision-making process, it may be possible to develop guidelines and recommendations for designing suitable HMI, and strengthen driver performance during a take-over from automation.