Modeling the Use of In-vehicle Information and Active Warnings in Vehicle Convoys Using the Virtual Driver

Our objective is to apply and extend the Virtual Driver modeling approach to perform a safety analysis of cognitive and physical aspects of driving with new technologies.

The new integrated model provides the ability to evaluate the combined effects of cognitive and physical features of vehicle interior designs on driver performance and workload. The project will result in advancements in the driver model capabilities and the development of stochastic assessment protocols for information systems intended for use during convoy operations. The result can feed into efforts to understand driver workload and make predictions about the safety of new task configurations. In addition to ARC support, both the Army and industry have funded the development of the physical simulation tools that are part of the Virtual Driver. The Army has also supported the establishment of a linkage been the Queuing Network – Model Human Processor (QN-MHP - the cognitive component of the Virtual Driver) and IMPRINT, the U.S. Army’s primary human task analysis tool. These connections and leverage will increase the availability of the research results within the Army and industry.

Publications:

• Fuller, H. J., Tsimhoni, O., & Reed, M. P. (2008). Effect of in-vehicle touch screen position on driver performance. Proceedings of the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. New York City.
• Tsimhoni, O., & Reed, M. P. (2007). The Virtual Driver: Integrating Task Planning and Cognitive Simulation with Human Movement Models. SAE Technical Paper Series No. 2007-01-1766. Warrendale, PA.