Aim and goal

As technology for automation, artificial intelligence, and connectivity develops, the role of people in interaction with vehicles is changing. In heavy transport, work environments are being developed where a user, or group of users, will control a number of driverless vehicles with a high level of automation within a hub (e.g., terminal or mine) and in traffic between hubs. This project will explore and demonstrate how people should interact with driverless vehicles in connected transport systems. The goal is to design new models for interaction that contribute to efficient and safe transport within and between hubs.

Challenge

There is currently little knowledge about how interaction design should be designed for self-driving vehicles, especially in cases where the user is not riding in the vehicle. The challenges in this project are partly to understand users' future needs in different types of use cases and partly to develop solutions for interaction design that can work in a real environment.

Solution

The work will focus on a number of use cases where interaction with the vehicles is assumed to be particularly important and where early-stage implementation is possible when introducing driverless heavy vehicles. The work will generate new knowledge and new models for interaction design, as well as concrete design concepts for the use cases. One of the design concepts will also be developed into a more production-ready prototype that will be integrated into a concept car or simulator and evaluated by users.  

Effects

The results of this work will be utilized for implementations in controlled connected transport systems in various forms of hubs and, in the long term, in more complex traffic environments as well. The project will thus contribute to the development of efficient transport systems so the Swedish automotive industry can strengthen its competitiveness in terms of innovative solutions for interaction design with driverless vehicles.

The aim of this project is to investigate different means to harmonize, simplify, manage and improve the interaction design of technical systems that operate at different levels of automation, often in the same vehicle, in different situations. In particular, mode understanding and mode confusion will be addressed. The goal is twofold: to develop and evaluate different concepts which support the interaction between driver and vehicle in a multimodal way and to develop design requirements based on theoretical and empirical data achieved in the project. 

In addition to the already available support systems in cars and trucks, new systems, or software modifications of existing systems, are frequently being introduced. The HARMONISE project addresses the challenges that emerge due to the incremental increase of automated driver support systems that gradually change the role of the driver over time. The challenges of mode understanding and mode confusion will be a particular focus during the project.

The project will develop and evaluate different concepts, which support the interaction between driver and vehicle in a multi-modal way and develop design requirements based on theoretical and empirical data collected in the project. The work will be theoretically grounded in recent advances within the distributed and embodied cognition approach to understand human action.

Autonomous driving can give positive societal effects on environment, safety and mobility. However, the benefits are all dependent on the willingness to use autonomous vehicles, stressing the importance of user centered research. The project explores how unsupervised autonomous driving is experienced when travelling on public roads. The results will provide knowledge of autonomous driving that will be leveraged into guidelines and requirements that will feed into Volvo Cars agile product development process. The scientific contribution consists of research methodology for on-road testing and new approaches for combining design ethnography and experimental testing.

The challenge in cognitive ergonomics lies in finding user interfaces that are well adapted to a person's ability to handle information (eg seeing, hearing, come to conclusions and making decisions). Digitalization and technological development often mean that people can access more information. But the important thing is that the user gets relevant information, and that the information is presented appropriately. Otherwise, the risk is that, for example, users become distracted or work performance becomes suffering. In a workplace, it can lead to safety problems, stress, reduced productivity, machine wear, etc. By applying new techniques and methods for interaction design such as VR, AR and sound design it is possible to find new exciting future solutions. 

We also see that many user environments, as well as the role of humans in these environments, are radically changing. This is especially true in areas where automation and AI are applied. An example is automated vehicles where the driver is given an increasingly passive and monitoring role. This means that the interaction between human and technology needs to be re-designed.

RISE can offer support and services in cognitive ergonomics in all parts of the innovation process. Since the subject can be applied in all parts of society where digitalisation and interaction is relevant, we see no restrictions in terms of industries. In the initial parts of the process we can offer inspirational lectures and workshops for idea generation. Here we can also assist with expert evaluation of existing interaction design solutions. Furthermore, we can develop design concepts and prototypes, preferably in collaboration with end users. Finally, we have a long experience of user testing, both in simulated and real user environments. 

User research

In today’s world, an attractive product with the right technical specifications is no guarantee of success. With the user in mind, we provide valuable input for our customers so they can develop functional, user-friendly products and systems that meet the users’ expectations. We assist you in discovering user needs and in selecting and carrying out the appropriate method, as well as analyzing the result.

Based on the customers’ specific needs, we can take responsibility and guide you in all development phases, from early concept to product on the market. In the early stages, we define user requirements, users' expectations and current behaviors by, for example, conducting field studies, interviews or focus groups. Later in the development process, we use specific methods according to standards, such as user tests and heuristic evaluations, to measure the usability of a product or concept as well as the user experience.

Customized user tests

We let users go through scenarios in our lab, which is designed specifically for user testing and equipped with the latest technology. The results are analyzed and usability issues are identified. Based on the results, we deliver recommendations on how the product can be improved, which is a valuable input to decision making and in further development.

Your development team can participate and observe the user studies to increase the understanding and knowledge about your users. High quality video recordings of the user tests can be performed and then clipped together into clear summaries, which are useful in further development as well as in communication and presentations. We are experienced usability researchers and see it as an important part of our mission to further develop methods for best application. We support your development team to always focus on the user in each step of the process, and by that creating competitive solutions.

The aim of the project was to develop methods to analyze and understand cascading natural hazards and their multiple effects and impacts. We designed scenarios and developed visualisations of the natural and societal consequences in a Swedish watercourse. We collaborated with secondary school students and additional public stakeholders.

A motivation for the project was to investigate how we can communicate and visualize nature-related information in a better way and change perspectives. We wanted to create commitment, interest and a sense of what is possible to achieve and thus counter and prevent feelings of helplessness.

On the RISE end of the project, the practical outcome was a web-based visualization which was designed around so called scrollytelling and which was used as an opportunity to explore the opportunities and challenges of using prominent digital tools for image generation to visualize natural events and hazards.

Participants from RISE included Arianit Kurti, Nina Lemon, Daniel Eriksson, Gustav Backhans and László Sall Vesselényi.

While electric power creates new opportunities it also creates new design challenges. In April 2014, the EU-Parliament decided that by 2019, new types of hybrid and electric vehicles must be equipped with a system that generates an external warning sound. How can vehicles meet the requirements formulated, while the sound also amplifies a trademark?

As for the internal sound in the cabin, electric power contributes to a more ergonomical sound environment. How can the sound environment in the cabin be pleasant, while it "sounds Scania" and gives the driver good feedback during the run?

Internal and external sound for future electric Scania trucks were designed in the project. In both cases, target sounds were designed, serving as targets for future construction. A visual interface concept was also developed, which puts the sound in a multimodal context.