A SAFER pre-study in the starting pit
We had a sit down with Pinar Boyraz, Associate professor, PhD Chalmers, to get her point of view on the project she is currently working on. Introducing: Smart-Loop or Design of multi-modal human-machine-interaction system for keeping the driver in-the-loop in automated driving systems. The full title may be exact, but what does it actually mean?
Let’s get down to basics. The problem Pinar Boyraz, and her associates on the project, are trying to solve is the ‘out-of-the-loop’ condition associated with Automated Driving Systems (ADS). ADS are currently not as effective as they could be in terms of how well a human can interact with it, unhindered. The driver of a vehicle with an ADS is tasked with supervising it and the surrounding traffic. But they are not always in control. Therefore, the experience may be uncomfortable for the driver, without a system alerting them to the vehicles movements. Pinar gives an example:
“If the driver is not alerted to a sudden change, such as a drastic decrease in speed, they may be surprised by the experience. That may be uncomfortable and make them uneasy.”
Worth mentioning is that Smart-Loop is working in tandem with the project MULTI-CUE, led by Mattias Wahde, Chalmers. A cooperation with a common goal. The Smart-Loop and MULTI-CUE projects, both focus on increasing the driver’s awareness. They strive to increase the comprehension of context and situation. This, as well as providing clear and logical actions procedures when the take-over-requests (TOR) or warnings (in case of fully autonomous vehicles) are issued, are the very foundations of this project.
Working together with Pinar Boyraz on the Smart-Loop project are Marco Dozza, Chalmers and Mattias Wahde, Chalmers. Their first task will be to design a modular system based on haptic feedback. The system will be applied and tested in an Open-Desk-Simulator with drivers using an emulated ADS. Thereafter, the simulations will employ the larger driving simulator, located at VTI, for incorporating motion cues better. Other stages of the project will include design of systems using visual and kinesiologic feedback. Before it can be assembled and completed, the project needs another vital piece. This is where MULTI-CUE comes into the picture. The full team of MULTI-CUE consists of Mattias Wahde, Pinar Boyraz, Mauro Bellone, Marco Dozza and Krister Wolff, all Chalmers associated. MULTI-CUE will be in charge of developing the auditory feedback system. The auditory feedback system will have a conversational agent, implemented by AAI group at VEAS.
In the final stage, all the pieces will be assembled to create a Multi-modal, Human-Machine-Interaction system. To better understand how the human driver reacts, to different kind of feedback, the systems will be exposed to several scenarios featuring them in sub-groups of combinations. A few example combinations will be:
(1) Haptic + Visual, (2) Haptic + Visual + Auditory and (3) Haptic + Visual + Auditory + Kinesiologic.
As a SAFER pre-study, the Smart-Loop project will hopefully make way for larger projects within the same area. As the main investigator, Pinar Boyraz is excited for the possibilities this project may bring for the future of automated vehicles. Connecting with the research area Systems for Accident Prevention and Automated Driving and collaborating with colleagues from the Area Of Advance Transport at Chalmers, she is hopeful as the project takes off.
Pinar Boyraz is very interested in the interaction between cyber-physical systems and human beings. That is one of her personal motivations behind working with this project.
“I wish to pave the way as a researcher to have harmony between humans and machines. For machines and humans to work smoothly together, in collaboration. That is my dream.” she says.
She would like to extend her gratitude towards SAFER and the SAFER community for the opportunity of this collaboration. Building a network like this has been a good boost and she hopes to maintain and further establish the connections in future projects. We certainly look forward to seeing this project’s completion.
FACTS ABOUT PINAR
Pinar Boyraz: Associate professor, PhD Chalmers
Home: Gothenburg, Sweden
Relaxing activities: Painting and playing the traverse flute
Outside work: Currently learning how to play the ukulele
