User experience assessment with high level autonomous vehicle console – a pilot test

Abstract

To gain broad approval, autonomous vehicles must not only be seen as practical but also as safe and effective. The interior design of both current and future vehicles is characterized by increasingly smooth and seamless surfaces. By integrating ergonomic design principles that prioritize the use of lightweight materials and aerodynamically efficient forms in autonomous vehicles, there is potential to reduce energy consumption, making a significant contribution to the overall sustainability of transportation systems. This study focuses on evaluating the user experience with an autonomous vehicle console prototype. The primary goal is to gain valuable insights into usability, efficiency, and overall user satisfaction regarding the console prototype. The participants engaged with the console interface in a controlled laboratory setting, with each interaction lasting less than 10 minutes. Initially, participants conducted a series of trial interactions with the autonomous vehicle's console, guided by the primary investigator, for a period of 3 minutes. Following this, they completed a questionnaire consisting of 12 items, including the System Usability Scale (SUS). It's worth noting that the majority of the participants, accounting for 60% of the total, were familiar with Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous vehicle concepts. The overall assessment score, determined through the System Usability Scale (SUS), reached an impressive 84.5. Consequently, the console prototype received a favorable verdict regarding its acceptability, further supported by an outstanding qualitative rating. In summary, the empirical findings collectively support the idea that the usability features of the autonomous vehicle console currently meet acceptable standards. Future research efforts will focus on an expanded participant pool, and center on the evaluation of haptic feedback, backlight effects, and capacitive touch sensations pertaining to the buttons.

Keywords: Human-machine interaction, Autonomous car interior, Usability

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005536