In this paper is introduced a first hypothesis of Human Machine Interface (HMI) for the PROMOTE-CHAUFFEUR demonstrator vehicles. The task management of this HMI requires the cooperation of two users that are each other connected via a radio link. This means that specific criteria in the HMI designing have been adopted, especially an ad-hoc metaphor to guarantee a clear interaction between drivers and input/output devices. All the design activity was driven by the intention to extend the user-centred design approach [Norman and Draper 1986; Nielsen 1993] to the networked interface class [Liu 1998: 1718]. The result would be the first contribution to a new perspective in the automotive HMI design named users centred design. The main function, shown on this system, is the Tow-Bar, that is the electronic link of two commercial vehicles: while the vehicle that precedes (called leading) will be driven conventionally by a driver, the one that follows (towed) will be automatically driven by a longitudinal and lateral electronic control system. The user of the leading vehicle is a professional driver and he is responsible for the whole system, including any emergency manoeuvre of the towed vehicle. The Human Machine Interface (HMI) of the IVECO vehicle is based upon an LCD display for the visualisation of the information, furthermore a series of dedicated commands for the driver's input, that will be individually analysed later on in this paper. Besides, a vehicle equipped with the CHAUFFEUR system can work either as a leading or as a towed vehicle. On this basis it is important to design an interface that can be suitable for both the roles. (A*)
Abstract