Cognitive and hybrid model of human driver

The purpose of this model is to allow simultaneous simulation of vehicles controlled by drivers and semi-automated systems for comparisons between automated vehicles and human drivers. The method discussed here fused a cognitive model with the existing simulation tool, SmartAHS. The contribution of the cognitive approach relies on the formation of a driver's knowledge database and the modeling of the cognitive processes underlying the driving activity. At the current state of development, a perception module provides information on range and range-rate with a leading vehicle. This information allows the simulated driver to choose a behavior among a set of possible behaviors, such as following or overtaking. The thresholds for choice behavior were initially chosen through a literature review and then tuned with microscopic driving data. The feasibility of the model is also discussed, as well as the application of the model to other simulations.