Automated vehicles: Multivariate analysis of drivers' take-over behaviour

Abstract

This paper presents a study carried out within the context of Level 3 automated driving. It aims to characterize drivers take-over behaviour by exploring quantitative data related to the driver's performance (vehicle data) and qualitative data (user experience expressed in post-activity interviews). For this purpose, several techniques of multivariate analysis were used such as clustering of variables and units. This study illustrates that user experience is associated with the magnitude of actions related to lateral and longitudinal control; positive experience being associated with smoother actions, whereas negative feelings were associated with rougher ones. Furthermore, two main driver's profiles emerged; they are described by two latent variables, one of which is quality of the actions. Future research will investigate the determinants of these profiles.