Skip to content

Could the cognition Goldilocks zone solve the challenge of semi-autonomous driving?

NewTerritory design experts have developed a multi-sensory experience to provide the optimum level of driver engagement. Megan Lampinen hears more

In-vehicle infotainment systems have revolutionised the user experience over the past decade. Today’s drivers have become accustomed to high-resolution touch-screens, smartphone pairing, and advanced driving assistance features. Increasingly, they are also becoming familiar with automated driving. SAE Level 2+ and Level 3 vehicles are making their way into the market, introducing new levels of convenience—and new design challenges.

Sharing responsibility

A car that drives by itself all the time is one thing; a car that drives by itself some of the time is something else entirely. With the latter, designers and engineers need to address the handover of control, i.e. when the vehicle passes driving control back to the human. If someone has been napping or reading, how do you quickly alert them that they need to take over—now—and fill them in on the current road situation?

It’s a big challenge, and one that some players are keen to avoid altogether. Back in 2016, Ford notably announced that it planned to bypass Level 3 autonomy because of this handover challenge, with Raj Nair, then President of North America, stating: "We abandoned the stepping-stone approach of driver-assist technologies and decided we'd take the full leap to deliver a fully autonomous Level 4-capable vehicle.”

While the automaker has since adjusted its stance, these early concerns are an indicator of the challenge of engaging drivers in semi-autonomous driving situations.

It’s time to log in (or subscribe).

Not a member? Subscribe now and let us help you understand the future of mobility.

Pro
£495/year
or £49.50/month
1 user
News
yes
Magazine
yes
Articles
yes
Special Reports
yes
Research
no
OEM Tracker
no
OEM Model Plans
no
OEM Production Data
no
OEM Sales Data
no
Pro+
£1,950/year
or £195/month
1 user
News
yes
Magazine
yes
Articles
yes
Special Reports
yes
Research
yes
OEM Tracker
yes
OEM Model Plans
yes
OEM Production Data
yes
OEM Sales Data
yes
Pro+ Team
£3,950/year
or £395/month
Up to 5 users
News
yes
Magazine
yes
Articles
yes
Special Reports
yes
Research
yes
OEM Tracker
yes
OEM Model Plans
yes
OEM Production Data
yes
OEM Sales Data
yes
Pro+ Enterprise
Unlimited
News
yes
Magazine
yes
Articles
yes
Special Reports
yes
Research
yes
OEM Tracker
yes
OEM Model Plans
yes
OEM Production Data
yes
OEM Sales Data
yes

Welcome back , to continue browsing the site, please click here