BME researchers study the reactions of passengers in self-driving cars

A joint study by experts from BME, the University of Szeged (SZTE) and the Hungarian Research Network HUN-REN on the physiological responses of passengers in self-driving vehicles to unforeseen situations has been published in Scientific Reports, a journal published by Nature's publisher. The results of the study entitled Passenger physiology in self-driving vehicles during unexpected events could be important for the social acceptance of autonomous transport.

The researchers compared passenger reactions under unexpected events in both traditional, human-driven and self-driving vehicles.

They conducted a series of measurements, including electroencephalography (EEG), eye-tracking, head movement analysis, and blinking frequency recordings under various driving conditions.

In the self-driving mode, passengers exhibited lower affectivity values, which may be related to a perceived lack of control over the vehicle's movements. Multifractal analysis revealed that unexpected events—such as the sudden appearance of an obstacle—had a pronounced impact on both eye and head movement patterns in both driving modes, indicating an increased demand for visual information in critical situations.

An interesting observation was that, under normal driving conditions, passengers in the autonomous mode blinked less frequently, which may indicate heightened alertness due to the novelty of the technology. However, during unexpected events, the blinking frequency decreased further in both driving modes, suggesting a similar physiological response to perceived danger.

Multidisciplinary collaboration

A particular value of this research is that it successfully combined technical sciences and human-centered research areas. The collaboration of Zsolt Palatinus, Head of the Department of Cognitive and Neuropsychology at the University of Szeged, and Miklós Lukovics (Institute of Economics and Economic Development) and their colleagues with experts from the BME, including Zsolt Szalay, Head of BME Automated Drive and the Department of Vehicle Technology, and Henrietta Lengyel, former colleague and doctoral researcher Henrietta Lengyel, has enabled the integration of complex physiological measurements and advancements in automotive technology.

“For the widespread adoption of autonomous transportation, technological innovation alone is not sufficient. It is equally important to understand how people react to this new technology, especially during unexpected events. This research proves that the integration of technical and human sciences is indispensable for the successful development and social acceptance of future transportation systems,” Zsolt Szalay, one of the authors of the paper, commented on the findings.

A safe environment for pioneering research

A key element in the success of this study was the safe research environment provided by the ZalaZONE test track. This facility enabled the creation of controlled yet realistic scenarios, ensuring that the experiments were reproducible and that the results were both reliable and scientifically valuable.

The collaboration with the University of Szeged is unique because it allows different disciplines to come together, helping to deepen the understanding of the human and societal aspects of technical developments. The evolution of autonomous transportation requires not only technological innovation but also its social acceptance.

Rector's Office, Communications Directorate