Fluid interface concept for automated driving

The biggest challenge for a human-machine interface in highly auto-mated vehicles is to provide enough information to the potentially unaware hu-man operator to induce an appropriate response avoiding cognitive overload. Current interface design struggles to provide timely and relevant information tai-lored for future driver’s needs. Therefore, a new human-centered approach is re-quired to connect drivers, vehicles and infrastructures and account for non-driv-ing related activities in the forthcoming automated vehicles. A viable solution derives from a holistic approach that merges technological tools with human fac-tors knowledge, to enable the understanding and resolution of potential usability, trust and acceptance issues. In this paper, the human factors challenges intro-duced by automated driving provide the starting point for the conceptualization of a new Fluid interface. The requirements for the new concept are derived from a systematic analysis of the necessary interactions among driver, vehicle and en-vironment. Therefore, the characteristics, components and functions of the inter-face are described at a theoretical level and compared to alternative solutions.