Design of Human-Machine Interface for Truck Platooning Using Driving Simulator

Abstract: Environmental and energy problems as well as countermeasures of the driving burden of truck drivers are critical issues in the logistics industry in Japan. As a solution to these problems, concerns regarding autonomous truck platooning of heavy-duty trucks are heightened globally. The actual operation of truck platoon systems in which trucks are unmanned is considered in limited traffic environments, such as expressways. The lead truck driver should confirm the safety of not only his/her truck but also those of the trailing truck(s). This study designs and evaluates a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) for the driver of the leading truck in an unmanned truck platoon using a driving simulator (DS). The HMI was assessed through a combination of objective evaluation of driving behavior, biometric data, and subjective feedback gathered via a questionnaire. The results demonstrated that the driver of the leading truck could effectively change lanes using the proposed HMI, and the inclusion of a bird’s-eye view significantly improved driver acceptance.This study proposes an HMI that incorporates mirror image displays and a bird’s-eye view as in-vehicle HMI components.1.Mirrorless Image Display:When the driver of the leading truck in a platoon checks the safety of the surroundings, it is crucial to visually confirm the side mirrors and rear monitor. The position to be displayed by the camera in the platooning is considered, and the image display is adapted to the safety confirmation of the drivers in the platoon.2.Bird’s-Eye View Display:In addition to the selected mirror images, this study proposes a bird’s-eye view that facilitates understanding the positional relationship with other trucks when confirming safety. In this study, the DS is used to measure the driving behavior of the participants. Biometric measurements are also taken to assess psychological burden. Furthermore, a questionnaire is conducted as a subjective evaluation, and a comprehensive assessment is made by integrating these results with the objective evaluation of driving behavior. The effectiveness of the proposed HMI was demonstrated through the DS experiment results.

Keywords: Human-machine interface, Driving simulator, Autonomous driving, and Ttruck platooning

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005676

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