Remote Operation as a Key Enabler for Autonomous Driving: User-Centred Design and Expert Evaluation of a Prototypical Workplace for the Technical Supervisor

Abstract

Remotely operating vehicles utilizes the benefits of vehicle automation when fully automated driving is not yet possible. A high level of safety and availability is ensured from afar by a human operator who supports the vehicle automation when its capabilities are exceeded. The remote operator thus fulfils the legal requirements in Germany as a Technical Supervisor to safely operate highly automated vehicles at SAE 4. To integrate the remote operator into the automated driving system, a novel user-centred human- machine interface (HMI) for remote operation workplaces was developed and initially evaluated (Kettwich, Schrank, & Oehl, 2021). The insights gained in this process were incorporated into the design of a prototypical workplace for remote operation. This workplace was now tested by 38 participants meeting the professional background criteria for the role of Technical Supervisor using typical simulation scenarios. Even under elevated workload induced by simultaneously engaging in a secondary task, participants were able to obtain sufficient situation awareness and quickly resolve the scenarios. The HMI yielded favourable usability and acceptance ratings. Participants were particularly satisfied with its ergonomics and the interaction design. The results of the study inform the workplace’s iterative development and further research on the remote operation of automated vehicles.