DESIGNING AUTOMATION

Exploring Operational Design Domains (ODDs) and the challenges within the different levels of Driving Automation as classified by SAE standards

Hi-Drive advances the European state-of-the-art of automated driving from SAE L3 ‘Conditional Automation’ further up towards ‘High Automation’ by demonstrating in large-scale trials the robustness and reliability of CAD functions. We focus on testing and evaluating variety of functionalities, from motorway chauffeur to urban chauffeur, explored in diverse scenarios with heterogeneous driving cultures across Europe.

Hi-Drive will push automated driving further towards High Automation. Hi-Drive addresses a number of key challenges which are currently hindering the progress of developments in vehicle automation. Our ambition is to considerably extend the operational design domain (ODD) from the present situation, which frequently demands interventions from the human driver. The removal of fragmentation in the ODD is expected to give rise to a gradual transition from a conditional operation towards higher levels of automated driving.

We focus on testing, demonstrating and evaluating robust high automation functions in large set of traffic environments on motorways, in cities and cross-border scenarios, with a specific attention to demanding, error-prone, condition

Objectives

Create, harmonise and manage a Europe-wide testing and demonstration environment for high automation.
Define and implement Technology Enablers technologies, targeting defragmentation and extension of the ODDs for different automated driving functions and traffic contexts.
Implement, adapt and further develop an already proven common testing methodology across all test sites for high-automation.

Test and demonstrate the functionality of high automation vehicles in demanding traffic scenarios across Europe.
Investigate user reactions, interactions, understanding and attitudes towards high-level automation.
Evaluate the project’s impacts ranging from single-user behaviour to a societal level.

THE DEFRAGMENTATION OF THE ODD

Today, L2-L3 Automated Driving Functions (ADFs) rely solely on the vehicles’ own perception system, and are therefore designed to function in a specific ODD limited by geography, visibility, traffic events, speed and roadways. However, even within these narrow ODDs, frequent takeover requests by human drivers occur due to sudden and unpredictable traffic events. By identifying the right technology enablers for specific corner cases and challenges, Hi-Drive makes it possible to close the gaps and minimize the degree of ODD fragmentation. Hi-Drive’s Automated Vehicles (AVs) operate in variable traffic conditions, communicate in an automation mode with the external world and anticipate traffic conditions beyond the line of sight.

A USER-CENTERED APPROACH

Understand and map the needs of different user groups by assessing user needs for  ages, genders, cultures etc. to ensure automated vehicles are relevant for all sections of the population.
Assess what factors influence user acceptance and awareness of CAD vehicles, on  a macro and micro scale.
Investigate how to evaluate and improve CAD vehicles’ comfort, and reduce motion-sickness for users.

Develop knowledge for successful application of user monitoring and intervention tools, including link to relevant Human-Machine Interfaces.
Determine what information is needed by VRUs and other road users when interacting with CAD vehicles, including teleoperation.