Automation and the situation awareness of drivers in agricultural semi-autonomous vehicles

作者：Bashiri Behzad; Mann Danny D^*

来源：Biosystems Engineering, 2014, 124: 8-15.

DOI：10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2014.06.002

• Automation design
• Situation awareness
• Agricultural vehicle
• Situation awareness rating technique

The effects of in-vehicle automation and driving assistant systems on the situation awareness of drivers have been the subject of much research with the implications of automation in such man-machine systems being identified. With the introduction of advanced automated systems in agricultural machinery, farmers are now working with semi-autonomous vehicles. A human factors perspective is needed to ensure the safe and efficient operation of such systems. This simulator study investigated the effects of automating vehicle steering and implement control and monitoring task automation on the situation awareness of drivers. Experiments were conducted using a tractor driving simulator located in the Agricultural Ergonomics Laboratory at the University of Manitoba. Thirty young, experienced tractor drivers participated in this study. It was found that implement control and monitoring task automation significantly affected the situation awareness of operators. Situation awareness increased as the level of automation support increased although the highest level of automation, where the participants were removed from the task loop, resulted in low situation awareness at a level similar to the condition with no automation support. The highest level of situation awareness was observed when the simulator suggested the required action to be taken by the operator. Vehicle steering task automation reduced the attentional demand of the task.

• 出版日期2014-8