A Theoretical Framework for Occupant Comfort in Future Shared Autonomous Vehicles

Abstract

People want to be comfortable, and perception of what makes each user comfortable can vary greatly. This makes it important that vehicle products meet the different expectations of users through flexibility in their interior environment design. One of the most prominent predictions in personal mobility progression is a move towards shared autonomous vehicles. SUaaVE is a European project aiming at improving acceptance, trust and comfort of future shared automated vehicle users, through development of a system concept known as ALFRED. This paper presents a theoretical framework for an adaptive model, with comfort componentised into attributes. Application of the model aims to drive a response to vehicle user’s individual characteristics and preferences - such that their comfort can be optimised intelligently by manipulation of vehicle features and functions as part of the ALFRED concept.