Acceptance of app based interaction between automated micro vehicles (AMV) and their users

Abstract

In the current paradigm of rapid urban growth and with the growing number of daily delivered goods, it is indispensable to develop new mobility solutions, ensuring sustainable, safe, and reliable inner-city logistics. This paper examined Duck-Train, an automated, electric Follow-Me micro vehicle concept (Follow-Me AMV). More specifically, we took a closer look at the communication between the vehicles and their users.We created an app prototype to enable potential users to interact with AMVs and initiate maneuvers. Afterward, we conducted a bilingual (German and Turkish) online survey (N = 202) containing four interaction tasks. After solving the tasks via the survey-integrated prototype, participants were asked to evaluate the app.Data were analyzed regarding the interface acceptance, the influence of the queried factors on acceptance, and the moderating effect of culture. The relationship between factors was examined using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results show that the app was overall well assessed. Moreover, acceptance of interaction concepts for in traffic communication is, on the one hand, affected by the interfaces' perceived usefulness, the hedonic motivation, and the users' trust in the system. On the other hand, user characteristics also influence the evaluation.

Keywords: human machine interaction, technology acceptance, autonomous micro-vehicles, interface design, human-centered design

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1002447