Ambient Assistance

(TR, US, CA, BE, MDC)

This design project investigated how ambient lighting could affect driver behavior during a takeover phase in driving automation. I worked with SAE level 3 automation, as this is the only level where both the human and the vehicle can switch between control. You can find the report here.

Given this was an individual project, I had to lead my process from the start to the end. I therefore developed a working simulator to evaluate and demonstrate my proposed intervention to improve the shift of driving supervision between human and machine. Research on driver alertness and ambient lighting has shown that ambient lighting could improve driver alertness during the takeover scenario. Nevertheless, decisions were made from user studies and expert interviews, conducted throughout the design process.

Learning points

Key learning points of this project were the self-directed design process, which adhered to the Double Diamond framework by the British Council (Design Council, 2019). Now I feel confident and capable of executing different stages of the design process individually and connecting them meaningfully into one prototype.

What I was missing was group collaboration and ideation in the process, which I substituted with user input in the form of brief co-creation sessions, as well as incorporating peer, coach, and expert feedback to inform design decisions. This project aligned with my long-term vision on design and mobility, fueling my intrinsic motivation throughout, which made the work all the more fulfilling.