Frustration-aware cars: Application and constraints for in-vehicle frustration recognition

Abstract

Frustration is frequently experienced by persons inside a car, for example during dense traffic preventing fast driving or when system functionality does not work as intended. A frustrated driver’s perception may be negatively influenced and s/he might get aggressive leading to decreased traffic safety. Furthermore, experiencing frustration has also a negative impact on comfort and therefore is even still relevant when humans are not in control anymore, but are rather users or passengers of automated vehicles. Therefore, from a human factors perspective it appears useful to equip future cars with the capability to recognize the current frustration level of the humans inside the car, appropriately react to it and by that help to balance their affective state as well as mitigate the negative effects of frustration. In our talk, we will present the results of several driving simulator studies investigating behavioral and (neuro-) physiological indicators of frustration that can be used to enable automated recognition of frustration. In addition, we will discuss the next steps towards fully frustration-aware vehicles and propose strategies how intelligent vehicles could adapt to the current level of frustration of people in the car.