Innovative research vehicle, developed with Microsoft,
and Collaborative Studies on Universities take new approaches to combating
driver distraction
There is always a question, what if we could somehow lower driver
distraction before ever putting a key in the ignition? That’s the focus of
Driver Awareness Research Vehicle (DAR –V) that Toyota
“ At Toyota, our focus is not
only on protecting people in case of an accident, but also on preventing that
accident from happening in the first place, “ said Chuck Gulash, Director of
Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center ( CSRC). “ While the auto
industry will never eliminate every potential driver awareness where it needs
to be – on the road ahead. “
What Gulash discussed were three specific safety research
initiatives aimed at better leveraging vehicle design and interaction to help
drivers keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and their brain
committed and aware. These grasp Toyota
“Cars have become an
interaction of multiple screens. Initially, there was the windscreen, and
rear window and the rear and side – view mirrors, “ said Gulash. “ We now have
multiple gauge clusters, large information screens and heads – up displays all
feeding us information and competing for our attention.”
The DAR –V was developed in partnership with Microsoft Research to
help lower driver distraction before we even start the car. The combination of
gesture control, voice and key fob allows drivers to navigate information such
as updates on traffic, weather, appointments and schedules for the day ahead,
some route details, gas station, etc…
“We need to start thinking of the car and the driver as teammates,
sharing the common goal of saving lives,” said Gulash. “The best teammates
learn from each other. They watch, listen and remember. They adapt. They
communicate. And they assist, as needed. In doing so, over time, a foundation of
trust is built. Together, the teammates are building a common situational
awareness of their driving environment. “
The DAR – V system can also recognize and differentiate between
individuals. The system might also be used to lower driver distractions in
other ways.
MIT AgeLab Observes the Human Factors of
Voice Command
Researchers found that the mental demands from drivers, while using
voice command, were actually lower than expected. Drivers compensated by
slowing down, increasing the distance to other vehicles. In all those voice
interactions studied, the amount of time, that drivers took their eyes off the
road during voice command tasks, was greater than expected, especially among
older drivers.
“These are questions that need to be answered”, Gulash
concluded, “not only to help build a product. But also, to build a
foundation of understanding and guidelines for how we proceed with further
research into the human factors of automated vehicles.“
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