The Impact of Repeated Take-over Experience in Autonomous Vehicle on Take-over Response Time and In-Vehicle Content Flow State

Objective: To investigate the impact of repeated take-over experience in autonomous vehicles on the take-over response times and flow states during non-driving related tasks (NDRTs) of drivers across different age groups.<br/>Background: As autonomous driving technology advances, understanding the dynamics of driver interaction, especially during take-over scenarios, becomes critical. Previous studies have indicated varying response times and flow states during autonomous driving, but few have systematically explored these aspects across different age groups with repeated take-over experiences.<br/>Method: Using a driving simulator, the study compared young and older adult groups undergoing repeated take-over requests while engaged in an NDRT, specifically watching videos, within an autonomous driving context. Take-over response times and flow states with NDRT were measured and compared.<br/>Results: The results showed that repeated take-over experiences significantly improved the response times, particularly for older adults. After multiple take-over experiences, the response time gap between the younger and older adults narrowed significantly. Furthermore, flow states during the NDRT of video watching increased across sessions, with no significant differences observed between age groups. <br/>Conclusion: This study demonstrates that repeated exposure to take-over requests in autonomous driving can improve response times, particularly in older adults, and enhance the flow state during NDRTs. These outcomes emphasize the need to integrate such experiences into autonomous driving training and education, especially for different age groups.<br/>Application: The research provides valuable insights for autonomous vehicle system design and driver education programs, highlighting the necessity for age-specific strategies.