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Designing better conversations between humans and vehicles

Safer automation starts with better human understanding 

Advanced vehicle automation has the potential to make roads significantly safer. Yet technology alone is not enough.

 

Test your automation instincts Contact us

Building trust between drivers and automation.

Making Human-Vehicle Interaction Safer

Many drivers still struggle to understand what automated systems can do, when they should intervene, and how to respond in critical situations. This often leads to overtrust, undertrust, misuse, disuse, and confusion about the driver's responsibilities.

AutHUMate addresses this challenge by developing adaptive Human-Technology Interaction (HTI) strategies for SAE Level 2 and Level 3 automated driving systems.

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The human factor remains the missing link 

THE CHALLENGE 

As vehicles become increasingly automated, the interaction between humans and technology becomes a critical safety challenge.

Today’s advanced driver assistance and partial automation systems can support key driving tasks, but their effectiveness depends on how well people understand and use them. The project rethinks how vehicles sense, interpret and communicate with human users.

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Test your automation instincts

Technology should adapt to people, not the other way around 

HUMAN-CENTRED AUTOMATION

AutHUMate’s approach starts from a simple but powerful principle: drivers are not all the same. People differ in behaviour, confidence, digital literacy, cognitive load, reaction times, accessibility needs, and trust in automation.  

Younger drivers may over-rely on assistance systems, older drivers may be more cautious or overwhelmed by information, while professional, digitally excluded or impaired users face different barriers.

We develop research-based personas to support adaptive, inclusive and context-aware interaction.

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DRIVER-IN-CONTEXT INTELLIGENCE 

Understanding the driver, not just the vehicle 

At the core of AutHUMate lies a driver-in-context intelligence approach.
The analysis integrates multiple dimensions:
ATTENTION AND ENGAGEMENT LEVELS
BEHAVIOURAL PATTERNS AND INTERACTION HABITS
TRAFFIC COMPLEXITY
WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
DRIVER COGNITIVE STATE AND READINESS
EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL INDICATORS
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE CONTEXT
VEHICLE OPERATIONAL STATUS

THE RIGHT LEVEL OF TRUST

Recognising system capabilities and limits.

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ADAPTIVE HUMAN-MACHINE INTERACTION

Traditional automation often positions the human as a backup operator.

The project shifts from isolated automation to human-automation teaming, enhancing awareness, communication and driver engagement.

The future is not humans versus machines.

It is humans and machines working better together.

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From control handover to collaboration
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PERSONALISED LEARNING & COACHING

One of the greatest human challenges in automated mobility is trust.

Too much trust can lead to over-reliance, disengagement of the driver, or dangerously delayed intervention.

Too little trust can prevent drivers from using potentially beneficial safety technologies altogether.

 

We focus on calibrated trust, the balance between confidence and awareness.

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Learning safer interaction before and during the journey
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TRUST CALIBRATION & MODE CONFUSION 

Understanding automation should not begin in the middle of a critical traffic situation.

The project explores innovative behavioural learning approaches that help users build confidence, awareness, and safe habits progressively.

  • Pre-driving learning experiences
  • In-drive adaptive coaching
  • Interactive, game-based learning across both phases
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Support safer use of automation
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TRUST CALIBRATION STRATEGIES

Automation only succeeds when people trust it.

We integrate societal readiness and inclusive design from the outset

The project explores trust, usability, accessibility, fairness and acceptance across diverse user groups

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Automation must work for everyone
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INCLUSIVE & SOCIETAL DESIGN FOR REAL LIFE VALIDATION

Where research meets reality.

AutHUMate’s innovations are designed to be tested in realistic environments:

  • advanced driving simulators
  • immersive VR/AR environments
  • behavioural testing environments
  • repeated interaction assessments
  • evaluation across diverse user groups
  • field operational testing in real traffic conditions
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Validation and real-world impact

The right message.
At the right moment.
In the right way.