InterActive Cruise Control - A New Driver Interaction Concept for Adaptive Cruise Control Systems

Already established driver assistance systems like Cruise Control or Adaptive Cruise Control are based on the delegation of a part of the driving task to the system. Instead of keeping a suitable speed the driver is just monitoring the correct function of the assistance system. In situations when the system is fulfilling the task in a way the driver doesn't accept she / he has to deactivate it. Adding a new input element the driver gains the possibility to create additional inputs in terms of acceleration or deceleration to the assistance system. This allows the driver to modify the system behavior in different driving situations without deactivating the system. The relationship between driver and system shifts from “delegation” to “co-operation”. This paper explains principal aspects of the technical realization and presents the results of a study regarding the first contact of subjects with an enhanced Adaptive Cruise Control.