Keeping the Driver in the Loop While Driving With Conditional Automation: a Perception-Action Theory Perspective

As motor vehicle automation increases, frequent transitions of control between automation and driver will take place. This thesis investigates if keeping drivers in the loop during conditionally automated driving can improve motorists’ driving behavior when taking back control. Three empirical studies were performed in state-of-the-art driving simulators and in a custom Wizard of Oz vehicle which safely emulated automated driving on the road. The results show that keeping drivers in the loop can improve take-over behavior and drivers may become faster at taking over across several rides.