How can you design a user interface that prioritizes safety and control in Level 5 autonomous vehicles?

Level 5 autonomous vehicles (AVs) are the ultimate goal of self-driving technology, where the human driver is completely replaced by the system and has no need to intervene or monitor the driving situation. However, this does not mean that the human passenger is passive or irrelevant. On the contrary, the user interface (UI) of Level 5 AVs should provide the passenger with a sense of safety, control, comfort, and trust in the system. In this article, we will explore some of the key principles and challenges of designing a UI that prioritizes these aspects in Level 5 AVs.

1 Safety first

The UI of Level 5 AVs should ensure that the passenger is always aware of the status and intentions of the system, as well as the potential risks and hazards in the environment. This can be achieved by using visual, auditory, and haptic feedback, such as displays, speakers, and seat vibrations, to communicate the system's actions, plans, and alerts. For example, the UI could show the planned route, the current speed, the distance to other vehicles, and the estimated time of arrival. Additionally, the UI could warn the passenger of any unexpected situations, such as road closures, traffic jams, or accidents, and explain how the system is handling them.

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Abhishek Sinha

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Every safety critical UI has to be a balance to provide actionable information, meet the compliance requirements while avoiding information / situational overload. At least in aviation, more accidents are happening due to too much info rather than lack of it. If there is something on screen that has no action associated with it, reconsider it. It just makes critical things stand out. For example, displaying distance to other vehicles. Won't it clutter the display ? Instead when the rate of closure is faster a visual text - 'slowing down due closure' would not only declutter the display but help the occupant understand as to why is it slowing down building trust.

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2 Control options

Even though the passenger does not need to drive the Level 5 AV, they should still have some control options to customize their experience and preferences. For instance, the UI could allow the passenger to choose the driving style, such as eco-friendly, sporty, or cautious, or to adjust the temperature, lighting, and music in the cabin. Moreover, the UI could enable the passenger to override the system in case of emergency or dissatisfaction, such as stopping the vehicle, changing the destination, or switching to manual mode. These control options should be easy to access and use, such as voice commands, touch screens, or buttons.

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Abhishek Sinha

Founder | Pilot | Veteran
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Here the top consideration should be who is the passenger & why is he in an AV ? Most people take a long time to change the default settings of their phones and they are good with it unless they really need a change. Giving driving options in my view should be a strict no no. Lighting, music etc. yes of course. Stopping yes of course - this is a compliance requirement. In fact, it should just stop and ask the driver to take over when things are not in order rather than wait for the driver to decide to take over. The boundaries should be hard and not flexible. Too much flexibility in boundaries complicates it to model for avoidance.

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3 Comfort features

The UI of Level 5 AVs should also enhance the comfort and enjoyment of the passenger, by providing them with entertainment, information, and relaxation options. For example, the UI could offer the passenger to watch movies, play games, read news, or browse social media on the displays or personal devices. Alternatively, the UI could suggest the passenger to take a nap, meditate, or exercise in the cabin, and provide them with suitable amenities, such as pillows, blankets, or mats. Furthermore, the UI could interact with the passenger in a friendly and conversational way, such as greeting them, asking them about their mood, or telling them jokes.

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4 Trust building

The UI of Level 5 AVs should also foster trust and confidence in the system, by demonstrating its competence, reliability, and transparency. This can be done by using clear and consistent language, graphics, and sounds, to convey the system's capabilities, limitations, and reasoning. For example, the UI could show the passenger how the system perceives and analyzes the environment, how it makes decisions and plans, and how it learns and improves from feedback and data. Additionally, the UI could solicit the passenger's input and opinions, such as rating the system's performance, suggesting improvements, or reporting problems.

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Abhishek Sinha

Founder | Pilot | Veteran
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Information Overload and Trust are always contradictory. In my view reducing information and its overload increases trust. Google maps has a fair degree of trust because it gives the bare minimum information and control. The more routes it shows, the less it will be trusted.

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5 User testing

The UI of Level 5 AVs should be designed with the user in mind, and tested with real users in realistic scenarios. This can help to identify and address the user's needs, expectations, and preferences, as well as to evaluate and improve the UI's usability, functionality, and aesthetics. User testing can also reveal the user's emotions, attitudes, and behaviors, such as satisfaction, frustration, anxiety, or boredom, and how they affect the user's interaction with the system. User testing can be conducted in various ways, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, or simulations.

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6 Future trends

The UI of Level 5 AVs is a dynamic and evolving field that will be impacted by technological advances, societal changes, and market demands. For instance, personalization could enable the UI to adjust to the user's personality, mood, context, and history, while multimodality could use multiple modes of input and output for greater convenience. Augmented reality could provide information or images on the windshield or windows to enhance the user's perception of the environment. Furthermore, the UI could facilitate social interaction between users and other passengers, pedestrians, or drivers through communication, collaboration, or gamification features.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you design a user interface that prioritizes safety and control in Level 5 autonomous vehicles?

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2

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1 Safety first

2 Control options

3 Comfort features

4 Trust building

5 User testing

6 Future trends

7 Here’s what else to consider

Automotive Design

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How can you design a user interface that prioritizes safety and control in Level 5 autonomous vehicles?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Safety first

2 Control options

3 Comfort features

4 Trust building

5 User testing

6 Future trends

7 Here’s what else to consider

Automotive Design

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