We offer the technical competence to equip experimental vehicles with measuring technology as well as expertise in the human sciences for the conduct of experiments. With this self-concept in mind, our experienced and engaged team of psychologists, engineers and technicians commits to the challenging activity of conducting test drives for evaluation studies and driver drowsiness research. The portfolio of the department includes all aspects of this field – including design of the test drives (technical support, routing, test setup) as well as the acquisition of test participants who fit to the prescribed sample characteristics, the fitting of own or foreign experimental vehicles with measuring equipment, the conduct of the tests in due time and the analysis of the results of the study.
We offer expertise in the technologies and methods for the evaluation of stress, distraction, vigilance or fatigue. We measure parameters concerning the perception of the behavior or emotions. Reliable standard measuring procedures include the evaluation of gaze behavior characteristics, cardiac activities, electrodermal activity, brain activities and core temperature. The portfolio is complemented by video observation techniques (concerning the driver and the traffic environment) as well as the measurement of behavioral parameters like steering wheel movements, button inputs or lateral deviations. The development of additional questionnaires is another competency of our team. Of course we analyze the data from physiological and physical measurements as well as from video recordings and questionnaires and we derive results which are statistically assured – also for large sample sizes.
We performed the following test drives for developer and suppliers in the automotive domain (amongst others AUDI AG, BMW AG), for the insurance industry (UDV) and within the scope of research commissions of the Federal Ministries:
- Long-term study concerning the effect of new assistance systems (lane change assistant and lane keeping assistant) on gaze- and driving behavior
- Several studies for the evaluation of the potential, the acceptance and the individual perception of the risk of lane change assistances in urban traffic
- Studies evaluating the effect of light applications on attention and fatigue in the simulator and during real drives
- Comparison of two different night vision devices enhancing the detection of objects during night drives by EEG- and EOG-measurements and user surveys
- Drive study assessing the individual and situation-dependent behavioral predictors and recognition of intentions
- Drive study on the effects of daytime running light and driving with light during the day regarding discrimination of weaker road users and effect on accidents
- Test drives during day and night for the assessment of the effect of driver vigilance on behavioral data
- Test drives for the evaluation of an assistance system which has been developed by HFC and which helps truck drivers to detect bicyclists located in the dead angle
