Transitioning to manual control following a Take-Over Request (TOR) in Level 3 autonomous cars is challenging, requiring drivers to re-engage with driving after engaging with Non-Driving Related Tasks (NDRTs). Effective TOR design can mitigate this challenge. We present the first study on how culture, age, and NDRT intersect to shape TOR design. In a cross-cultural study across the UK (high traffic-law compliance) and Israel (low compliance), involving older and younger drivers, participants designed TORs for four NDRTs in a real car setting. Results revealed a universal preference for re-purposing NDRT-devices to issue TORs. Older drivers preferred tri-modal TORs that suspend the NDRT; younger drivers favoured bi-modal TORs allowing NDRT interruption management. Due to altered alert sensitivity and low law compliance, Israeli participants included a RiskMeter to assess hazard criticality. We introduce novel TOR designs and taxonomy features to guide culturally and age-sensitive TOR development, key for global Level 3 adoption.

Cognitive training can boost and sharpen the brain’s abilities to remember, focus, and switch between different tasks. One of the key elements of cognitive training is cognitive load. It allows a manipulation of the intensity of the intervention to suit the participant’s ability level and keep the session enjoyable, i.e. neither too frustrating/hard nor too boring/easy). However, measuring cognitive workload in an objective way is still under-researched and difficult. Here, we have developed a novel sustained attention Virtual Reality (VR) task, using Unity, that aims to predict load in a controlled manner. We demonstrate promising results in that machine learning algorithms can identify perceived as well as objective difficulty of the game accurately, using a combination of eye-tracking and physiological data obtained directly within the VR environment.

It is challenging for older drivers to transition to manual control after a Take-Over Request (TOR) has been issued by a Level 3 car. This study investigated if the presentation source of the TOR affects driver performance when resuming control. We measured take-over performance, hazard perception, and user acceptance when the TOR was presented on (1) a smartphone displaying a Non-Driving Related Task (NDRT) simultaneously with the In-Vehicle Information System (IVIS), or (2) presented on the IVIS only. Two NDRTs that varied in cognitive demand were tested with older drivers aged 60-69 and 70+. For the lower cognitive demand NDRT, presenting the TOR on the smartphone+IVIS improved takeover performance, hazard perception, and user acceptance, with greater benefits observed in the 70+ group. For the cognitively demanding NDRT, the smartphone+IVIS presentation did not benefit either group of drivers. TOR designers can apply these findings to enhance TORs and assist older drivers in managing control transitions considering the NDRT cognitive demand.