Human factors in driving automation: Investigating and improving upon how drivers interact with technology in their car
As vehicle automation transitions from driver-assist features to higher levels of autonomy, the role of the human operator is undergoing a fundamental shift. While automation promises gains in fuel efficiency and traffic throughput, its success still hinges on the driver. This talk explores the critical intersection of Human Factors and driving automation systems. Drawing on a series of empirical studies conducted over the past decade-including high-fidelity driving simulator experiments, interviews, and surveys-I will examine how drivers actually perceive and interact with driving automation. From the bad to the good, this talk will outline the essential strategies needed to bridge the gap between current technology and a truly safe automated driving future.
Bio: Shannon C. Roberts is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the associate director of the New England University Transportation Center. Prior to joining UMass, she was a technical staff member at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in the Cyber Analytics and Decisions Systems Group. Roberts received her Ph.D. and M.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she received her B.S. in mechanical engineering from MIT.
Roberts is a trained human factors engineer with experience studying and evaluating the interaction between humans and systems in transportation safety as well as other domains. Her research has required collaborations from other academic institutions, government agencies, as well as industry partners and has resulted in 54 peer reviewed conference and journal publications. Roberts is active in STEM outreach to K-12 students as well as public outreach to the media and beyond to spread the importance of transportation safety in our everyday lives.