Running head: NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 1

NHTSA Highway Safety Funding Grant Proposal

Isaiah Samuel

University of Idaho
NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 2

The following document complies with the NHTSA grants format and length

requirements. Information in both paragraph and non-paragraph form follow the

guidelines laid forth by the NHTSA

Human in the Loop Research Laboratory

NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 3

Section 1. Applicant Identification and Certification

Principle Investigator: Dr. Brian Dyre

Phone: 208-885-6927
Email bdyre@uidaho.edu
Mailing address: Department of Psychology & Communication Studies, University of
Idaho MS 3043, Moscow, Idaho 83844

Applicant and Lead Graduate Research Assistant: Isaiah Samuel

Phone: 561-255-6398
Email: Isamuel@uidaho.edu
Mailing address: 215 South view avenue, Moscow, ID 83843
NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 4

Section 2. Project Narrative

Problem Identification/Needs Statement (3 Paragraph limit)

Over the course of the next few years’ semi-automated and heavily automated

vehicles will become more available and a major selling point for the automobile

industry. As this occurs more and more autonomous vehicles will hit the streets of the

U.S and Idaho. One of the leading causes of crashes and near crashes is driver distraction

(Klauer et al., 2006), and visual distraction is considered to be the most safety critical

type (Sivak, 1996). While automation aims to reduce driver error, automation is not

perfect and humans are poor monitors of automation (Sheridan, 2002). This indicates a

need for research on driver distraction while using automated systems, and gaze behavior

may be one of the best measures.

We look to you for financial assistance to improve our research facilities, this will

allow us to better conduct research and analyze driver and driving related behavior. Our

facilities are in need of a modern-day eye-tracker for our research now and into the

foreseeable future. Gaze behavior is vital to our research and has been shown to reflect

the level of distraction for drivers (Perermannstock et al., 2013). Currently our Human in

the Loop research facility is equipped with a driving simulator with a 130-degree forward

field of view and four LCD screens to support side mirrors, rear view mirrors, and an

instrument panel. Our current eye-tracker dates back to the mid 90’s and was

manufactured by the American Science Laboratory company. This company no longer

exists or supports our eye tracker. While we are able to utilize the eye tracker for our

work, the size and limitability can severely affect our research and reduce efficiency. Due

to the wired and cumbersome nature of the eye tracker we will not be able to study as
NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 5

naturally, driver behavior in an automated vehicle.

With the assistance of your grant our laboratory will be able to acquire a pair of

Tobii eye tracking glasses. Tobii is the leading company in eye tracking products for both

researchers and consumers. These glasses are equivalent in size and comfort to a standard

pair of sunglasses, which many drivers already utilize daily. With the Tobii eye Glasses

our laboratory will be able to observe driver behavior in a more natural and less

restrictive setting in addition to gaining access to high fidelity software and Tobii

support.

Goals/objectives

Our goal is to observe driver behavior under various levels of automation.

Understanding what tasks drivers perform and how they monitor their environment is

imperative to improving our understanding of automated driving and driver dynamics,

driver performance during automation failure, driver alertness, and how to improve

automated systems and safety features. We will begin by conducting a study investigating

the effect of anthropomorphized feedback on drivers trust with automated systems and

driver performance during fallback events. A fallback event occurs when an automated

system fails or is unable to perform desired actions under current circumstances and

returns vehicle control to the driver. Furthermore we will survey participants about their

attitudes and beliefs related to the functions and trusty worthiness of automated systems.

After completing our first study we will utilize the Tobii eye-tracker for further

driving distraction research. Based on our findings and trends in the industry we will

continue to address driver distraction and performance with automated systems, as well

as investigate how passengers behave and if they trust these systems. If automation
NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 6

allows the driver to focus on secondary tasks, and having additional passengers in the

vehicle can further increase driver distraction. Could the combination of automation and

passengers be a catalyst for decreased driving performance, monitoring of the system,

and reaction time during automation failure and critical events? Ultimately we hope to

better understand driver and passenger behavior in order to increase driver awareness of

automated capabilities, driver’s situational awareness, decrease crashes related to

automation failure, and inform the public on how to properly drive with and monitor

automated systems by FFY20.

Tasks and Deliverables

• Program and test-drive scenarios in the National Advanced Driving simulator by

July 15th.
• Collect pilot data and determine study readiness by July 29th.
• Begin running 100 participants by August 18th.
• Finish collecting data and begin analyzing crash data, reaction time, driver
performance and trust by November 1st
• Compile findings and submit for publication by December 15th.
• Begin preparations for our passenger behavior study by December 19th
• Meet with local law enforcement sheriffs biannually to determine and implement
a method for collecting data related to accidents where automated systems were in
use by January 7th; on-going
• Create and share an informational brochure with local driving agencies and law
enforcement, which informs drivers about automated vehicles including
understanding vehicles limits, capabilities, automation myths, and how to improve
overall driver and passenger safety by January 15th.
• Program and test passenger study by January 20th.
• Collect pilot data for second study by February 1st
• Lead researcher will present our work and findings at the Advanced Autonomous
Drive conference February 13-14th 2019.
• Start data collection for study two by February 17th
• Finish data collection and begin analyzing study two by April 30th
• Present study two at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society October 5-9th.
• Meet with local law enforcement sheriffs to collect data related to automated
crashes and damages by December 15th.

Evaluation and Performance

NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 7

• Our projects will utilize experimental data output from the NAD’s MiniSim,
which includes crash data, reaction time, brake inputs, and steering inputs. This
will allow us to determine if individuals are able to quickly take control of a
vehicle during automated failure and steer the vehicle to safety.
• Data from the Tobii eye tracker will allow us to look at search patterns, fixation
points, head movement, and pupil dilations. These measures will allow us to
determine how drivers split their attention between driving and secondary tasks,
and how they monitor their environment and the automation.
• The laboratory will report back as major milestones are reached, altered or
completed. Additional reports will be provided after each meeting with local law
enforcement.
• All publications, brochures and project findings that are written up will be
reported and provide to your agency, the public, and or local law enforcement.
• Idaho crash reports will be utilized to determine high-risk areas for automation
failure and to determine crash trends over the next few years.

Further Funding Plan/Sustainability

The Tobii eye tracker will help us with both funding and sustainability. The eye

tracker will allow us to conduct research we are currently unable to perform due to

limitations with our current eye tracker. This is turn will broaden our research base and

make us more competitive when applying for future grants. Furthermore other graduate

students and researchers will be able to utilize this eye tracker in the future. Allowing

graduate students after me to continue driving related research as well as research in other

areas.
NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 8

Section 3. Project Budget Narrative

Project Budget
PERSONNEL: List each employee/position (and their duties) you foresee will be Matching Funds:
utilized for this position. Estimate salary, hours worked and other costs associated Identify how you
with the position. Note: Selective Traffic Enforcement Patrol (STEP) grant funded will match funds if
positions must be backfilled by new hires prior to beginning the STEP grant. applicable

POSITION: Principle Investigator NA

DUTIES/HOURS/SALARY: Oversee project status and progress. Flexible hours
and no pay.
POSITION: Graduate Research Assistant NA
DUTIES/HOURS/SALARY: Responsible for setting up project, carrying it out, and
project obligations. 32-40 hours per week no pay.
PERSONNEL TOTAL: $0
TRAINING: List any courses/seminars/workshops associated with this project. This Matching Funds:
will include any training to be provided by this project or attended by personal Identify how you
employed with this project. will match funds if
applicable

COURSE: No training or workshops required. NA

TRAINING TOTAL: $0

TRAVEL: Describe location (if known) and item (airfare, lodging, per diem, etc.) Matching Funds:
and the purpose of the travel. Identify how you
will match funds if
applicable

EVENT: ADA Conference AMOUNT: $1,680 25% match of

LOCATION/PURPOSE: San Francisco, CA. Will attend the ADA conference to
funds through
present our findings and meet with leaders in the industry to address current needs in
research and search for future collaborators. GPSA travel
award
TRAVEL TOTAL: $1,680
EQUIPMENT: Eye tracking equipment vital to current and future research in the Matching Funds:
area of driver behavior and in cab safety. Identify how you
will match funds if
applicable

ITEM: 2x Tobii Pro Glasses 2 AMOUNT: $480 25% Match

PURPOSE/BENEFIT: Tobii Pro Glasses 2 will allow us to asses eye behavior within
through the
the driving simulator setting, the request for an additional pair allows us to conduct
studies with a driver and passenger simultaneously. department
ITEM: Tobii Pro Lab AMOUNT: $25000 25% Match
PURPOSE/BENEFIT: Tobii Pro Lab allows researchers to analyze data from Tobii
through the
eye trackers. This software is essential to the validity of our research and the ability
to conduct it. department
EQUIPMENT TOTAL: $25,480

MISC.: Any items not mentioned above associated with this project Matching Funds:
Identify how you
will match funds if
applicable
NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 9

ITEM: Indirect costs AMOUNT: $5,528 25% Match

PURPOSE/USE: Indirect costs are charged at a 20% rate due to use of in-state
funding. through the
department
Misc Total: $5,528
PROJECT BUDGET TOTAL
A. TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS REQUESTED: $24,516
B. TOTAL AMOUNT OF LOCAL MATCH FROM AGENCY: $8,172
C. TOTAL AMOUNT OF BUDGET: $32,688
 NHTSA GRANT PROPOSAL 10

References

De Waard, D., Van Der Hulst, M., Hoedemaeker, M., & Brookhuis, K. A. (1999). Driver

behaviour in an emergency situation in the automated highway system. Transportation

Human Factors, 1(1), 67–82.

Kaber, D. B., & Endsley, M. R. (2004). The effects of level of automation and adaptive

automation on human performance, situation awareness and workload in a dynamic

control task. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 5(2), 113–153.

Klauer, S., Dingus, T., Neale, V., Sudweeks, J., Ramsey, D., 2006. The impact of driver

inattention on near-crash/crash risk. An Analysis Using the 100-car Naturalistic Driving

Study Data (No. HS-810 594). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

Washington, D.C

Parasuraman, R., & Manzey, D. H. (2010). Complacency and bias in human use of automation:

An attentional integration. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and

Ergonomics Society, 52(3), 381–410.

Sheridan, T. B. (2002). Humans and automation: System design and research issues. Santa

Monica, CA: Wiley.

Sivak, M., 1996. The information that drivers use: is it indeed 90% visual? Perception 25 (9),

1081–1090.

Victor, T.W., 2005. Keeping Eye and Mind on the Road (Dissertation). University of

Uppsala