A quantitative model of takeover request time budget for conditionally automated driving
Foghor Tanshi, Dirk Söffker
TL;DR
This paper investigates how to budget driver takeover time under conditional automation. It introduces a quantitative TORTB model defined by $TORTB = SRT + DEC + SST + NDRTC - OC$, with $SST = (NOA * 1.9) + (NOJ * 0.2) + RSC$, and validates it across three TOR scenarios with and without visual imagery using a driving simulator. The results show that a 7 s upper bound suffices for the most complex scenarios (S1 and S3), while visual imagery increases takeover time due to higher visual load, and an online estimator accommodates driver experience and scenario demands. The framework enables more precise, scenario-aware time budgeting for takeovers in ADS, though limitations include simplified environments and a young participant pool; future work will address fatigue, spatial distribution of agents, and online validation.
Abstract
In conditional automation, the automated driving system assumes full control and only issues a takeover request to a human driver to resume driving in critical situations. Previous studies have concluded that the time budget required by drivers to resume driving after a takeover request varies with situations and different takeover variables. However, no comprehensive generalized approaches for estimating in advance the time budget required by drivers to takeover have been provided. In this contribution, fixed (7 s) and variable time budgets (6 s, 5 s, and 4 s) with and without visual imagery assistance were investigated for suitability in three takeover scenarios using performance measures such as average lateral displacement. The results indicate that 7 s is suitable for two of the studied scenarios based on their characteristics. Using the obtained results and known relations between takeover variables, a mathematical formula for estimating takeover request time budget is proposed. The proposed formula integrates individual stimulus response time, driving experience, scenario specific requirements and allows increased safety for takeover maneuvers. Furthermore, the visual imagery resulted in increased takeover time which invariably increases the time budget. Thus the time demand of the visualized information if applicable (such as visual imagery) should be included in the time budget.