Systems Architecture of a Reconfigurable Field Research Vehicle for Human Factors Experiments

Future transportation vehicles and highways may present drivers with information overload, causing distractions, high workload and fatigue that could impair the driver's ability to operate the vehicle safely. A new reconfigurable research tool is being developed to perform human factors experiments in the areas of vehicle display type, placement and symbology (including Head-Up Display (HUD)); route navigation; in-vehicle signing; and, audio messaging. The Human Factors Field Research Vehicle (HFFRV) architecture provides computer controlled experiments. This design uses the vehicle's reconfigurable instrument panel, displays and audio messages to stimulate the driver while a data acquisition system records driver and vehicle responses.