Effects of Viewpoint Presentation Methods on Driving Workload in Vehicle Teleoperation Systems

Fukuzawa, Taiga; Kaede, Kazunori; Watanuki, Keiichi · 2026 · Crossref

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007854

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Summary

This study addresses the operational challenges in automotive teleoperation systems, specifically focusing on how different viewpoint presentation methods affect operator workload. Motivated by Japan’s growing logistics demand and severe driver shortages, the research investigates whether alternative perspectives—such as third-person or top-down views—can optimize remote supervision and intervention tasks. While previous literature suggests these views may enhance situational awareness, their specific impact on mental and physiological workload remains underexplored. The study aims to identify optimal viewpoint configurations by comparing conventional cockpit views against third-person and top-down perspectives across both monitor-based and head-mounted display (HMD) interfaces. The experimental design utilized a Unity-based driving simulator to replicate standard driver’s license training routes, requiring moderate driving skills. Eleven male participants (mean age 23.5 years) performed driving tasks under six conditions: three viewpoints (cockpit, third-person, top-down) presented via either a monitor or an HMD. Workload was assessed using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) for subjective mental load and skin conductance for physiological stress. System usability was evaluated using the System Usability Scale (SUS) after each scenario. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to NASA-TLX data to extract key workload components: comprehensive driving skills, vehicle control, and hazard perception. The results revealed significant differences in workload and usability based on viewpoint and scenario. PCA indicated that under VR conditions, the workload for comprehensive driving skills and vehicle control was significantly reduced compared to the conventional cockpit view on a monitor. SUS scores showed that third-person and top-down views were significantly more usable in scenarios requiring precise vehicle positioning, such as parking and S-curves, likely due to a wider field of view enhancing situational awareness. Conversely, these alternative views performed poorly in scenarios requiring continuous forward monitoring, such as highways, mountain roads, and back alleys, where uncertainty about the direction of travel increased workload. Additionally, in sloping road scenarios, the top-down view on a monitor yielded lower usability scores due to difficulty perceiving elevation changes, whereas the HMD condition mitigated this issue through stereoscopic perception. However, nearly half of the participants experienced VR sickness during HMD use, leading to terminated sessions, suggesting that motion amplification in elevated viewpoints contributes to physical discomfort. The study concludes that no single viewpoint is universally optimal; rather, effectiveness depends on the specific operational scenario. Third-person and top-down views are advantageous for tasks requiring confirmation of vehicle state and surroundings but are unsuitable for continuous forward monitoring. HMDs offer potential benefits for stereoscopic perception tasks but are currently limited by VR sickness. These findings provide critical insights for designing adaptive teleoperation interfaces that switch viewpoints based on driving context to minimize operator workload and improve system safety. Future research should focus on mitigating VR sickness and developing hybrid presentation methods.

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-nvidia on 2026-08-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• teleoperation remote driving
• mental demand
• workload measurement
• hud ar windshield
• road complexity
• simulator sickness

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• Empirical Findings: self report data
• Methodological Resource: tool software
• Theoretical Contribution: theory or model