Interior Environment Control in Automated Vehicles for Enhancing Driver Safety and Comfort

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17785
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 61020:Human interface and interaction-related
• Research Institution: Takushoku University (2023); The University of Tokyo (2021-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Gwak Jongseong 拓殖大学, 工学部, 准教授 (20826078)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 覚醒 / 快適性 / 生体情報

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aiming to develop an in-vehicle environment control system for automated vehicles, we investigated the impact of temperature changes on drivers and examined the differences between manual driving and Level 3 automated driving through the measurement of event-related potentials. The results revealed that in manual driving, drivers' sensitivity to temperature changes decreased, but their driving performance improved. This indicates that proper temperature changes have minimal impact on the cognitive processes necessary for driving tasks while maintaining alertness. Additionally, we explored the relationship between arousal and lighting factors. The findings showed that there is an optimal level of arousal for peak performance, and this can also be influenced by external stimuli. This suggests that controlling illuminance and color temperature should be adjusted according to the internal factors affecting arousal.

Free Research Field

ヒューマンインタフェース

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自動運転車両における最適な車内環境制御に関する基礎的な知見を提供するものである。特に温度変化、照明条件、シートの快適性の要素をどのように制御すれば快適性を損なわず覚醒維持できるのかに注目し、ドライバの覚醒度と認知機能に与える影響を明らかにした。また、事象関連電位や生理指標を用いた評価手法の確立は、今後の類似研究における手法として活用できると考えられる。これらの知見は自動運転車の安全性と快適性を向上させるための具体的な設計指針を提供し、ドライバの快適性確保、負担軽減や交通事故の減少に寄与することが期待される。