Dual Attention Alignment for Safer Automated Driving and Enhanced Driver Readiness

Campus Plus is introducing another Australian Government Department of Education National Industry PhD Program PhD industry-academia collaboration: Jonny Kuo from Seeing Machines, Ronald Schroeter and Sebastien Glaser from QUT (Queensland University of Technology) and PhD candidate Tina Mehraban are working on a project to improve driver safety in automated driving technology.

Automated driving systems face difficulties ensuring effective interaction between human drivers and the driving systems, especially when there the focus of the two are not aligned. By focusing on dual attention alignment, this project addresses critical challenges in automated driving by ensuring that human drivers and automated systems are focused on the same things. If the driver is distracted, the system will alert them, and if the machine is distracted or not performing well, it will be adjusted. This helps improve safety and performance by making sure both the driver and the automated system are paying attention to the right things at the right times, reducing accidents, lowering the associated costs and improving overall transport efficiency. Enhanced safety and reliability of automated driving systems will also increase public trust and acceptance, improving mobility and quality of life, especially in remote areas. In addition, improving automated system efficiency can contribute to reducing emissions by optimising driving patterns and reducing unnecessary stops and starts.