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Home > Programs & Labs > HumanFIRST Program

HumanFIRST Program

HumanFIRST (Human Factors Interdisciplinary Research in Simulation and Transportation) is the primary human factors research laboratory of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute. The HumanFIRST Program employs the tools and methods of psychology and human factors engineering to improve scientific understanding of driver performance and cognitive functions. The centerpiece of the HumanFIRST facility is the VESTR driving simulator, an immersive virtual-reality environment for evaluating driver performance. Combining a core staff of cognitive psychologists and a multidisciplinary network of researchers, HumanFIRST supports a wide variety of research activities aimed at producing safer, more efficient transportation systems.

In this page:

• Mission and Goals
• Capabilities
• Research Projects

Mission and goals

HumanFIRST considers the driver to be at the center of the automotive transportation system. From this perspective, a scientific understanding of driver performance is a key element in designing and evaluating Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies.

The objective of the HumanFIRST Program is to propose innovative interventions to improve transportation safety based on the application of psychological theory and research methodologies. Design and evaluation of these interventions includes consideration of driver acceptance and the potential for the deployed system to induce unintended driver responses such as distraction, fatigue, or behavioral adaptation.

Simulation enables transportation researchers to develop and test new strategies under strict experimental controls, without the variability—and safety concerns—of real-world test environments.

To ensure that our  research considers developments on the world stage, these efforts are supported by collaboration with leading researchers and institutions worldwide.

Capabilities

Immersive driving simulation enables HumanFIRST to accurately capture data on driver performance and behavior under virtually any conditions. For real-world testing and validation, the program has access to a variety of test track and operational research settings.

The Virtual Environment for Surface Transportation Research (VESTR) is an immersive driving simulator that operates with a 2002 Saturn SC2 full vehicle cab. The driver compartment features realistic controls and instrumentation including force feedback on the steering and emulated power-assist during braking. VESTR provides high-fidelity simulation for all sensory channels, producing a realistic sense of presence within the simulated environment.

The visual scene is projected to a high-resolution, five-channel, 210-degree forward field of view and a 60-degree rear screen. Side mirror views are provided by separate small screens. The system’s SCANeR II software can generate any type of road environment including precise reproductions of geospecific locations under a range of lighting and weather conditions and realistic vehicle headlight models.

Auditory and haptic feedback are provided by a surround-sound system, vibration actuators attached to the car body, and a three-axis electric motion system. These tightly integrated systems generate natural sound and motion cues that increase perceptual realism.

Data gathering and monitoring devices support the design and evaluation of vehicle telematic systems and auditory/visual/haptic interfaces. VESTR is integrated with a 40-channel psychophysical recording unit that supports the measurement of driver brain activity using Evoked Response Potential paradigms. The simulator is also integrated with an eye tracking system capable of determining which objects in the dynamic simulation receive the driver’s attention.

Traffic scenarios of any type can be created, incorporating a variety of simulated road user types (including pedestrians and bicyclists with realistic motion). Simulation behavior can be altered dynamically in response to traffic conditions and to driver responses such as eye-glance behavior and interaction with vehicle controls.

Research projects

HumanFIRST provides human factors research support for a wide variety of ITS research projects, working with other programs and laboratories within the ITS Institute as well as with outside research partners.

Rural Intersection Decision Support/Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance System

The ITS Institute’s Intersection Decision Support research focused on reducing crashes at rural through-stop highway intersections by supporting better driver decision making. Simulations created by HumanFIRST allowed researchers to investigate the performance of drivers of different ages to a variety of intersection traffic scenarios. These data were central to the development of Driver-Infrastructure Interface (DII) concepts—variable message systems used to advise drivers of oncoming traffic. Candidate DII designs were then tested and refined under simulated conditions.

Building on these results, HumanFIRST is now participating in the federal Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance System (CICAS) initiative, which aims to integrate in-vehicle and infrastructure-based safety systems.

Effects on Driver Performance of Advanced Traveler Information Systems and 511 Information Retrieval

Driver information services utilizing cellular phones are increasingly popular, creating a need for better understanding of their benefits and risks. An initial study compared driver performance while conversing on a hands-free cell phone to conditions of operating common in-vehicle controls (e.g., radio, fan, air conditioning) and alcohol intoxication (BAC 0.08). In addition, the study examined the combined effects of being distracted and being intoxicated given that there may be a higher risk of a crash if the driver engages in a combination of risk factors. During simulated traffic scenarios, resource allocation was assessed through behavioral measures and an event-related potential (ERP) novelty oddball paradigm. A follow-up study examined the distraction potential and usability of 511 information retrieval with revised menu structures and content.