An Improved Man-Machine Interface for the Driver-Vehicle System

A control stick with a built-in tactile aiding device was tested in a simulated car-following situation. The tactile device gave the driver of a following car information—headway and relative velocity—concerning the state of a lead car. Experimental results (relative velocity and headway variance) with the simulator were compared with those obtained using conventional automobile controls in a similar situation. Sizeable reductions in these quantities, 55 and 85 percent, respectively, were obtained when the tactile display was partially quickened. Some evidence indicated that the driver behaved as an amplifier when using such a display.