Exploring a Framework of Vehicle-Human Communication Features for Enhancing Situation Awareness and Trust

Vehicles equipped with level 3 automated driving system (ADS) features are expected to integrate into consumer markets in the near future. Drivers’ trust and situation awareness (SA) are critical for the acceptance and safe operation of level 3 ADS. Prior research has found that augmented reality interfaces and verbal alerts can communicate information to drivers and thus enhance trust and SA. However, little is understood as to the degree to which specific communication needs may differ across driving contexts. Participants watched videos of traffic scenarios and answered open-ended questions about desired information across measures (SA, trust) and modalities (visual, verbal), and what they considered redundant information. A thematic analysis was used to analyze responses from 128 participants. Communicating the vehicle’s intentions was one of the most crucial desired features. Other desired features were context-dependent including the detection, location, and trajectory of relevant objects and intention reasoning. Key redundant features included excessive cues, unspecific visual or auditory alerts. The results were organized as a framework for the consideration of modalities and information relevancy in future vehicle-human communication research. The framework also considers context-specific communication needs as well as a cognitive-perceptual threshold for presenting desired amount of information through the appropriate modality.