Capabilities of Humans for Vehicle Guidance

Human information processing systems, as well as the individual driver characteristics interacting reciprocally with them, are particularly significant for the task of vehicle guidance. This chapter will describe these connections between driver, vehicle and environment using a simple system model. The driver’s intake, processing and output of information will be delineated. The relevant driver characteristics, capacities and skills for vehicle guidance will be described. Based on this understanding, requirements for vehicle guidance with regards to the driver will be systematized by considering subtasks and evaluated with respect to the limits of human capacity. Vehicle guidance is a predominantly informational activity in which work content and information are converted into reactions. Normally, the driver performs the action of steering while continually processing information. Accordingly, the most significant factors associated with vehicle guidance are the systems of information processing and the individual driver characteristics which interacts reciprocally with them. In order to describe the connections between driver, vehicle and environment, a simple system model will be employed (cf. Abendroth 2001). It consists of two elements: driver and vehicle. The input variable of vehicle guidance, which is also influenced by environmental factors, impacts both of these elements. Above and beyond this, disruptive variables such as distractions caused by passengers may arise. This system’s output variable can be described by the system functions of mobility, safety and comfort