The objective of the Human Factors Design of Automated Highway Systems contract was to provide input during the conceptual stages of AHS development on matters of human factors concern, and thereby affect the design and implementation of the AHS and lay the foundation for future AHS advancement. Parallel analytical and experimental tracks were conducted, with intentional cross-talk among the tasks on the two tracks. This report provides a review of the products from each task. Included for each task is the objective, the methodology, and the results. In addition, answers to questions asked during a particular task and answered based on findings from later work are given in the review for the task where the question was first asked. Also, where assumptions about the AHS made earlier in the research effort were changed because of new data or an evolution in thinking about the issue, those changes are presented along with their bases. The implications of findings for the design of the AHS are presented. A section on current concepts of the AHS presents descriptions of the AHS scenarios first developed in the first task but now modified to reflect the changed assumptions and other data findings.

The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Program is a cooperative effort by government, private industry, and academia to apply advanced technology to the task of resolving the problems of surface transportation. The objective is to improve travel efficiency and mobility, enhance safety, conserve energy, provide economic benefits, and protect the environment. The current demand for mobility has exceeded the available capacity of the roadway system. Because the highway system cannot be expanded, except in minor ways, the available capacity must be used more efficiently to handle the increased demand. ITS applies advanced information processing, communication, sensing, and computer control technologies to the problems of surface transportation. Considerable research and development efforts will be required to produce these new technologies and to convert technologies developed in the defense and space programs to solve surface transportation problems. ITS has been subdivided into six interlocking technology areas. This book addresses human factors concerns for four of these areas: * Advanced Traveler Information Systems are a variety of systems that provide real time, in-vehicle information to drivers regarding navigation and route guidance, motorist services, roadway signing, and hazard warnings. * Advanced Vehicle Control Systems refer to systems that aid drivers in controlling their vehicle particularly in emergency situations and ultimately taking over some or all of the driving tasks. * Commercial Vehicle Operations address the application of ITS technologies to the special needs of commercial roadway vehicles including automated vehicle identification, location, weigh-in-motion, clearance sensing, and record keeping. * Advanced Traffic Management Systems monitor, control and manage traffic on streets and highways to reduce congestion using vehicle route diversion, automated signal timing, changeable message signs, and priority control systems. Two technical areas are not specifically addressed in individual chapters, but many aspects of them are covered in associated chapters: * Advanced Rural Transportation Systems include systems that apply ITS technologies to the special needs of rural systems and include emergency notification and response, vehicle location, and traveler information. * Advanced Public Transportation Systems enhance the effectiveness, attractiveness and economics of public transportation and include fleet management, automated fare collection, and real-time information systems.

"Human factors can be defined as "designing to match the capabilities and limitations of the human user." The objectives of this human-centered design process are to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of system performance, ensure a high level of safety, and maximize user acceptance. These objectives are achieved by systematically applying relevant information and principles about human abilities, characteristics, behavior, and limitations to specific design problems. This handbook provides a source document for automated highway system (AHS) designers that will facilitate a human-centered design process for the AHS. It is the second edition of these guidelines (first edition is FHWA-RD-94-116) and includes the addition of key AHS attributes proposed by the National Automated Highway System Consortium, updates to the chapter on general guidelines for electronic visual displays, and the addition of several operational guidelines (chapter 10)."--Technical report documentation p.

The first two experiments in a series exploring human factors issues related to the Automated Highway System (AHS) used a generic AHS configuration--the left lane reserved for automated vehicles, the center and right lanes containing unautomated vehicles, no transition lane, and no barriers between the automated and unautomated lanes--that was simulated in the Iowa Driving Simulator (IDS). The IDS has a moving base hexapod platform containing a mid-sized sedan. Imagery was projected onto a 3.35-rad (180 deg) screen in front of the driver, and onto a 1.13-rad (60 deg) screen to the rear. Thirty-six drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 years participated in the first experiment; 24 drivers who were age 65 or older took part in the second. Both experiments explored the transfer of control from the AHS to the driver when the driver's task was to leave the automated lane. The driver, who was traveling under automated control in a string of vehicles in the automated lane, had to take control, drive from the automated lane into the center lane, then leave the freeway.