Integrating Human-Centred Design Approach into the Safety Assurance of CCAM Systems: A Framework for STAC

Abstract

The development of Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) systems has focused on technical safety, but safety alone does not ensure adoption. Users need systems that align with their needs, preferences, and expectations. The European project CERTAIN addresses this by integrating Safety, Trust, Acceptance, and Comfort (STAC) into a user-centred design (UCD) framework across the CCAM lifecycle. This work applies UCD to Human–Machine Interfaces (HMI), defining STAC-related KPIs, scenarios, and use cases across automation levels (L2–L4), including mixed-level configurations and L4 delivery pods.A systematic literature review and stakeholder interviews refine STAC KPIs capturing human perceptions, behaviours, and needs. The UCD process operationalizes STAC dimensions iteratively in design and evaluation, emphasizing inclusivity, accessibility, and diverse cultural contexts. Three HMI use cases—complete journeys, unscheduled handovers, and software updates—test STAC KPIs in context, combining subjective (perceived safety, trust, comfort, acceptance) and objective (behavioural adaptation, trust calibration) measures.Grounded in human factors, this framework guides the design of HMIs that are not only technically safe but also perceived as safe, trustworthy, acceptable, and comfortable, supporting adoption and societal alignment of CCAM systems.

Keywords: User Centred Design Approach, Safety, Trustworthiness, Acceptance, Comfort, Human Factors, CCAM Systems

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007881