ABSTRACT
User interfaces in vehicles have gone through a significant transformation since the invention of the automobile. Autonomous cars generally use machine learning software, complex algorithms, and processors along with sensors and actuators to generate the map of the surroundings and find a suitable path. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) develop the awareness of their vicinity and make choices to control, navigate, and drive the vehicle to successively relieve the human intervention to a large extent. Vehicle automation can radically change the rail and road transportation in reference to involvement of human factors. At present, research on the nature of the human-AV interaction and role of human factors is in its developing stage. However, the current body of research indicates that this area urgently needs careful consideration as it can significantly contribute to the successful introduction of the AV as an acceptable, safe, and reliable mode of transport. Even with the highest degree of automation, human factors cannot be completely ignored for providing extended availability, i.e., should system performance deteriorate, the system is put back to the state of needing human supervision. This chapter first presents the conceptual description of vehicle automation in the rail and road transportation sector. It then elaborates on the role of human factors in the interaction of AVs and human drivers and system users. It also highlights the social aspects including security issues, acceptability, and vulnerability of road users in this regard. As all transportation systems are susceptible to technical failures and other disruptions, this chapter discusses the need for introducing the resilience concept in future research on human-AV interaction. Finally, this chapter presents the summary in the conclusion section.
