Human factors research needs for the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) program : summary report

NHTSA · 1998 · ROSA P / United States. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This report summarizes the findings of a preliminary human factors review for the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) Program, funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The primary objective was to identify critical human factors research needs early in the IVI lifecycle to ensure the development of safe, well-engineered vehicles. The motivation stemmed from the recognition that IVI systems would significantly increase the number of in-vehicle displays and controls, raising the risk of information overload, driver confusion, and decreased safety if human factors integration was not prioritized. The FHWA also emphasized the growing demographic of older drivers and the need to address their specific implications for highway safety and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) design. The project methodology involved two main activities: a “Preliminary IVI Human Factors Technology Workshop” to engage stakeholders and define issues, and an investigation into infrastructure and in-vehicle requirements for alternative IVI configurations. Researchers assessed 26 User Services defined in the U.S. DOT Request for Information, decomposing them into subfunctions and evaluating their availability for Generation I, II, and III IVI systems. These services were grouped into seven “Technology Modules,” ranging from basic collision warning to ITS technologies for transit. Data sources included literature from the Battelle Human Factors Transportation Center, FHWA, and NHTSA publications, as well expert opinions from over 70 attendees at the workshop. Five Candidate IVI Configurations were developed from these modules to represent integrated sets of User Services for Generation I. The results identified specific human factors research needs for each of the five candidate configurations. For a configuration providing basic collision warning and driver information, needs included studying the joint use of visual, auditory, and tactile information, driver workload, performance, and acceptance. A configuration offering 360° collision warning required guidelines for multiple collision avoidance systems, integration of traveler information, and assessment of driver tolerance for false alarms. Configurations focused on advanced traveler information highlighted the need to assess how integrated routing and convenience devices affect driver behavior, with specific attention to older drivers. For heavy vehicles, research needs involved integrating IVI information with existing dashboard displays and roadside signs, determining information priorities, and assessing driver condition warning devices. Transit vehicle configurations required analyses of the transit environment and the timing and density of information presentation. The study concluded that human factors research for Generation I IVI must focus on integrating and managing the information presented to drivers. While considerable research exists for individual User Services, no publicly available studies had examined the effects of integrating multiple ITS devices into a single vehicle as envisioned by the IVI. The report noted that a broad range of technologies was available for Generation I prototypes, but extensive algorithm, software, and infrastructure development would be required for Generation II and III systems. These findings underscore the necessity of early human factors intervention to prevent safety degradation in increasingly complex vehicle environments.

Key finding

No publicly available human factors research had examined the effects of integrating multiple Intelligent Transportation Systems devices into a vehicle as envisioned by the IVI program.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• ehmi external hmi
• hud ar windshield
• automation
• in vehicle displays
• feedback modes

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: design guidelines
• Methodological Resource: tool software
• Synthesis & Review: research agenda