Foundations for the psychological safety of human and autonomous vehicles interaction

2024-11-08

arXiv.org

AI Summary

This paper addresses the overlooked issue of psychological safety in human–autonomous vehicle interaction, moving beyond conventional physical safety paradigms. It introduces the first systematic definition of “psychological safety” in autonomous driving contexts: a state of user distress or behavioral impairment arising from diminished trust or perceived risk. Integrating System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA), human factors engineering, and interdisciplinary psychology, the study develops the first human-centered psychological risk identification and assessment model. Through structured hazard modeling and empirical analysis in a family-vehicle use case, it validates the model’s applicability. The outcome is a scalable, theory-grounded psychological safety assessment framework that supports user-centered design optimization, evidence-based regulatory policy development, and enhancement of public trust in autonomous vehicle systems. (138 words)

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Simulating Human Behavior
• Natural Language Processing: Safety and Robustness
• Humans and AI: Game Design — Virtual Humans, NPCs and Autonomous Characters

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Psychology-informed user models and recommender systems
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

This paper addresses the critical issue of psychological safety in the design and operation of autonomous vehicles, which are increasingly integrated with artificial intelligence technologies. While traditional safety standards focus primarily on physical safety, this paper emphasizes the psychological implications that arise from human interactions with autonomous vehicles, highlighting the importance of trust and perceived risk as significant factors influencing user acceptance. Through a review of existing safety techniques, the paper defines psychological safety in the context of autonomous vehicles, proposes a risk model to identify and assess psychological risks, and adopts a system-theoretic analysis method. The paper illustrates the potential psychological hazards using a scenario involving a family's experience with an autonomous vehicle, aiming to systematically evaluate situations that could lead to psychological harm. By establishing a framework that incorporates psychological safety alongside physical safety, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on the safe deployment of autonomous vehicle and aims to guide future developments in user-cantered design and regulatory practices.

Problem

• Assessing psychological safety in human-autonomous vehicle interaction
• Modeling psychological risks to enhance user trust and acceptance
• Integrating psychological safety into autonomous vehicle design standards

Innovation

• Proposes a risk model for psychological safety
• Uses system-theoretic analysis method
• Incorporates psychological safety in autonomous vehicles