A Study on Driver Acceptance of Adaptive Cruise Control Using a Driving Simulator

This paper describes how the objective of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is to maintain a desired distance and speed between a driver vehicle and a preceding vehicle. One of the key issues associated with ACC system development is driver acceptance. ACC controllers should be optimized in such a way that the system does not conflict with the driving behavior of a driver and further that the driver feels comfortable with the system. The objective of the paper is to investigate driver acceptance issues for ACC utilizing a driving simulator. A representative ACC simulation system has been implemented on a highly realistic, PC-based driving simulator. Participants with different driving styles have driven the simulator with and without ACC through a highway route. Driving behavior in terms of preferred headway-time, lateral position of a car, and head and eye movement has been investigated. A questionnaire has been also used to evaluate user acceptance and adaptation to ACC. The study results show usefulness of ACC with consistency and reduced variation in driving.