Evaluation of a New In-vehicle HMI System Composed of Steering Wheel Switch and Head-Up Display

An experimental method was required to evaluate both the operability and the influence on safety of in-vehicle devices used while driving. We proposed to measure the number of errors, operation time, glance time, and variations in steering angle and yaw angle through objective tests, as well as eliciting subjective evaluations by participants. We conducted an experiment in which, using a driving simulator to evaluate a center-cluster panel switch and a new human-machine interface (HMI) with a head-up display (HUD) and steering wheel switch (SWS), the participant follows a lead vehicle on an expressway. Results indicate that the experimental method is effective for comprehensively evaluating in-vehicle devices and identifying where improvements are needed. The merits of the new HMI are also discussed.