Driver Psychology during Automated Platooning

With the rapid increase in vehicle automation technology, the call for understanding how humans behave while driving in an automated vehicle becomes more urgent. Vehicles that have automated systems such as Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) or Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) not only support drivers in their journey, but also place them in a passive supervising role, scanning for potential hazardous stimuli in the environment or a system malfunction. More advanced technology that includes both lateral and longitudinal control and enables vehicles to drive at close distances from each other (called platooning technology) has the potential to reduce energy consumption and highway congestion. However, such technology places the driver in an even more critical position, as the time headway between vehicles is often below human reaction time (i.e., down to approximately 0.3 seconds). Little is known about driver behaviour, and the psychological constructs involved therewith, in automated platoons. This thesis investigates driver psychology during automated platooning.