Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association (자동차안전학회지)

Korean Auto-vehicle Safety Association (한국자동차안전학회)
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Development of a Field Evaluation Methodology for eHMI Technology in Autonomous Vehicle-Pedestrian Communication

자율주행차-보행자간 의사소통을 위한 eHMI 기술의 현장 평가 방법론 개발

  • Hyunmi Lee ;
  • Jeong-Ah Jang ;
  • Soomin Kwon ;
  • Yeonhwa Ha
  • 이현미 (TOD 지속가능교통연구센터) ;
  • 장정아 (TOD 지속가능교통연구센터) ;
  • 권수민 (한국교통안전공단 자동차안전연구원, 부품연구처) ;
  • 하연화 (한국교통안전공단 자동차안전연구원, 부품연구처)
  • Received : 2024.06.14
  • Accepted : 2024.09.10
  • Published : 2024.09.30
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Abstract

With the advent of Level 4 autonomous vehicles, the need for effective communication between these vehicles and pedestrians has become increasingly important. To address this, eHMI (Enhanced Human-Machine Interface) technology has been proposed to replace traditional driver-pedestrian interactions. eHMI plays a crucial role in conveying the vehicle's status and intentions to pedestrians, thereby improving interaction. Globally, automobile manufacturers and technology companies are investing in visual eHMI technologies, advancing in tandem with the automotive industry. This study developed a methodology for field evaluation of communication technologies between pedestrians and Level 4 autonomous vehicles in urban settings. A three-stage message and display system, tailored to the pedestrian crossing process (recognition, judgment, response), was established. In experiments without message displays, 42.2% (38 out of 90) of participants abandoned crossing. Most who crossed did so only after the vehicle stopped, with some groups crossing irrespective of vehicle approach. When the 'yield' message was introduced, crossing patterns and speed distributions changed significantly. All 38 participants who initially abandoned crossing decided to cross, and the elderly who previously ran or walked quickly crossed at a normal pace, reducing overall crossing time. Field experiments are crucial as real-world conditions may elicit different behaviors than controlled settings. Continued research in field evaluations is essential to develop and assess effective eHMI messages. By observing and analyzing actual pedestrian movements, we can reliably evaluate the effectiveness of these communication technologies, thereby enhancing interaction between autonomous vehicles and pedestrians.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 국토교통부 및 국토교통과학기술진흥원의 연구비지원으로 수행하였습니다(과제번호 RS2021_KA162419).

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