Car automation is a remarkable comfort feature and hence spreading out in new passenger car models. So called level 3 automation (SAE) requires driver attention even during the automation, and transition of control happens at high speeds with and without timely warnings. Even though drivers shall be ready to take back control at any time, such systems need to adapt to inattentive, sleepy or emotionally elevated chauffeurs to ensure safety during automation and especially during the transitions. ADAS&ME develops strategies for transitions when the drivers are not in the optimal attentive driver state. The project considers safe transitions from automation to manual driving and also investigates how automation can support manual driving when drivers are stressed or sleepy. Fraunhofer IAO investigates how automated driving at level 3 can reduce driver stress and workload and hence increase safety. In situations where level 4 automation is available the Fraunhofer system can even nudge drivers towards using automation, since a level 4 automated car drives safer than a sleepy or highly stressed human driver.

Fraunhofer and DLR join forces to develop driver state adaptive transitions in both directions. The HMI strategies and automated functions are now implemented in the driving simulators of both research institutions and will be demonstrated after extensive technical and user testing in the DLR demonstrator car.