The role of individual differences in human-automated vehicle interaction

As more automation is integrated into vehicles, understanding how humans interact with these new technologies is becoming increasingly important given the high cost of errors. Cognitive models have the potential to provide insights into human-automated vehicle interaction and inform risk assessment, user interface design, and risk mitigation interventions. We argue that accounting for individual differences is necessary in order to derive the full benefits of cognitive models. We describe several methods for modeling individual differences and demonstrate potential pitfalls of using a one-size-fits-all model. In addition, we explain how modeling individual differences is important for risk assessment, designing robust user interfaces and automated systems, and designing effective risk mitigation interventions. Finally, we use a simulation study to demonstrate possible benefits of modeling individual differences in unmanned vehicle management.