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There are a variety of effective Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) on the market today. The potential for increased road safety is high when the driver uses these technologies. However, researchers have concluded that the systems are not always used and there is an unexploited opportunity to protect drivers from accidents if the systems were used to a greater extent.

In the new associated project, Enhanced ADAS II, the researchers will investigate how driver assistance systems should be designed to make them even more attractive and user-friendly, so that the rate of use increases. Customization in user interfaces is a key component that will be explored.

A more frequent use can save lives in traffic
Driver assistance Systems are developed to make it safer, more efficient and comfortable to travel by car. For these to work well, it is important that the systems are developed from a driver perspective, which means that interaction design including both interfaces and interaction with the system in a broader perspective. With systems that are well designed in functionality and interface, a better user experience is conveyed and thus a more frequent use of the systems. In this way, the positive effects are maximized through increased use. 

Customization in user interfaces 
To get there, it is important to take into account, for example, situational awareness, the driver's mental model and trust in the autonomous functionality of the car. In the project, we intend to improve both functionality and usability in ADAS through opportunities for improvements provided by driver and cabin monitoring. It thus enables adaptations in, for example, the vehicle's behaviour but also in the design of the user interface. When it comes to customization in user interfaces, the project will also focus more on multimodal interfaces compared to the previous project. All innovative solutions for ADAS that are developed in the project will also be evaluated with drivers “in the loop”. These evaluations are conducted in different stages where the last step is a prototype evaluation in an actual vehicle on the road. Expected results include improved ADAS and HMI functionality, innovative driver and cab monitoring strategies, as well as testable prototypes in vehicles.

Valuable knowledge exchange
SAFER’s research area Road user behaviour will host the new associated project. Aptiv, RISE and Smart Eye are partners in the project, which will run between November 2022 and October 2025. Vinnova is the financier and the total budget is 13 550 000 SEK. Niklas Strand, RISE, and Co-director for SAFER’s research area for Road user behaviour, will lead the project. The project will be supported by a PhD student from Halmstad University, Daban Rizgary.

The project is a next step after the Enhanced ADAS 1 that was finalised earlier this year. The research is supporting SAFER’ collaborative agenda and the specific targets related to ability to diagnose a fit driver based on monitoring data and our aim to be able to define and measure several user experience indicators to contribute to traffic safety.