A review of non-driving-related tasks used in studies on automated driving

Abstract

Conditionally automated driving (CAD) relieves the driver from monitoring current traffic conditions. This type of driving inherently enables the driver to execute different non-driving-related tasks (NDRTs). However, the driver still must be available as a backup option. With this in mind, the classification and evaluation of various NDRTs concerning their impact on driver performance in takeover scenarios represent an important contribution toward the creation of safe CAD functions. We reviewed various NDRTs that were used in studies on automated driving. The focus was on assigning aspects of these activities (e.g., ability to visually monitor traffic, necessity of sustained attention to NDRT, etc.) to various steps of the takeover process (e.g., noticing and interpreting takeover requests), which could be impaired by the execution of the respective NDRT. This, in turn, would increase the demands on the driver with respect to managing the takeover situation.