Enhancing the Driver's Comprehension of ADS's System Limitations: An HMI for Providing Request-to-Intervene Trigger Information

Level 3 automated driving systems (ADS) have attracted significant attention and are being commercialized. A Level 3 ADS prompts the driver to take control by requesting to intervene (RtI) when its operational design domain (ODD) or system limitations are exceeded. However, complex traffic situations may lead drivers to perceive multiple potential triggers of RtI simultaneously, causing hesitation or confusion during take-over. Therefore, drivers must clearly understand the ADS's system limitations to understand the triggers of RtI and ensure safe take-over. In this study, we propose a voice-based HMI for providing RtI trigger cues to help drivers understand ADS's system limitations. The results of a between-group experiment using a driving simulator showed that incorporating effective trigger cues into the RtI enabled drivers to comprehend the ADS's system limitations better and reduce collisions. It also improved the subjective evaluations of drivers, such as the comprehensibility of system limitations, hesitation in response to RtI, and acceptance of ADS behaviors when encountering RtI while using the ADS. Therefore, enhanced comprehension resulting from trigger cues is essential for promoting a safer and better user experience using ADS during RtI.