An observation on alterations of usability in automobile interior design with autonomous driving technology escalation

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to observe and analyze the characteristics of the significant changes of interior designs in recent mobility by escalation of autonomous technology in order to justify the changes in the automotive interior design usability with mobility and habitability. This study reviews the characteristics by analyzing the recent changes of vehicle designs through the concepts of mobility and habitability with autonomous technology. The objective of this paper is to observe the design attributes of recently unveiled autonomous driving concept cars. The roles of spaces in autonomous vehicles and architecture will be differentiated. An architectural space provides solutions for psychological needs of spiritual relaxation, hygiene, and feeding in living spaces, whereas an autonomous vehicle provides physical relaxation with short sleeping. These have led to the differentiations between conventional automobiles, which are for owning, and the spaces of mobility and architecture, which are for sharing. The paradigm for space and economy will be changed for traditional automobiles, which are driven by humans and owned individually, whereas an architectural space is to be shared in order to accommodate vehicle sharing for individual needs for mobility. Although it could be seen as a contradiction to the perspective of enlarging the sharing economy, traditional automobiles and digital oriented mobility are classified into owning and sharing, whereas urban architectural space is for sharing.