As ego - driving cars become old-hat , the question on everyone ’s tongue is how well will theyreact to walker . With human driver , it ’s comparatively gentle to realise that they in all probability wo n’t just pout you over at a ford ( unless it ’s a BMW ) . But without one ? It will always be arduous to secern whether a information processing system system has tell apart you as an obstruction .
Well , worry no more , as some Japanese investigator have number up with the most ridiculous answer that may actually influence – massive , cartoonish googly optic .
Strapped to the front like a modernizedBrum , these flit eyes would allow footer to know that they have been recognise by the cars ’ onboard detection systems , creating an anthropomorphic comfort and reassuring them that they can traverse the road in repose .
Do you feel more comfortable? Image Credit:Chang et al., 2022.
“ If the car is not looking at the walker , this implies that the car does not recognize the walker . Thus , pedestrians can judge that they should not queer the street , thereby avoiding potential traffic accidents , ” write the researchers in the study .
The concept is wide-eyed enough , but it could add a necessary prophylactic feature that could aid humans become more accustomed to our ego - push master .
For the study , the researchers employed a golf roadster that had tinge window on the front to make it appear as if no one was drive . They then attached big eye onto the front that were controlled by the researchers remotely , and avirtual realitypedestrian cross environment was set up so that the participants did n’t get really run over .
Nine men and nine women were need to cross the route when the wacky was come in , with the buggies either equip with eye or not . They discovered that the presence of eyes improve the cross scenario , and player crossed more safely and swimmingly while being gaze upon by the jumbo googlies .
In both group , the eyes amend how “ safe ” the participant felt when assessing the danger of the office ( though many noted they did n’t like how the massive eyes looked , intelligibly ) . However , the eyes functioned other than between the two – in military man , it act as a danger signal , warning them from baffle if it would be a dangerous move ; while in women , it instilled self-assurance and made them feel secure in crossing .
“ In this study , the male participants made many dangerous road - thwart conclusion ( i.e. , choosing to cross when the car was not stopping ) , but these errors were reduced by the cart ’s center regard . However , there was not much difference in secure state of affairs for them ( i.e. , choosing to cross when the car was go to stop ) , ” explain Project Lecturer Chia - Ming Chang , one of the source , in astatement .
“ On the other manus , the distaff participants made more inefficient decisions ( i.e. , pick out not to cross when the car was intending to stop ) and these errors were reduced by the cart ’s eye regard . However , there was not much difference in unsafe office for them . ”
The research has n’t yet been peer - reviewed , so it may be subject to some big limit , but it does pose some interesting head on the possible technology that could be used to signalize danger to walker . Who knows – the nextTeslamight just come with optional googly eyes .
The subject area was published in the journalInternational Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications .
