The Impact of Windshield Blackout on Flow States in Non-Driving Related Tasks (NDRT) in Level 5 Autonomous Driving

Objective: To investigate how the blackout of natural driving visual information on the windshield in Level 5 autonomous driving impacts passengers' flow states during non-driving related tasks (NDRTs).<br/>Background: As Level 5 autonomous driving technology progresses, passengers are no longer required to engage in driving, allowing full focus on NDRTs. Prior research has primarily focused on Level 3 autonomous driving, examining driver handover scenarios and the necessary visual information. However, in a fully autonomous setting where no driver intervention is required, understanding the influence of visual information on NDRT engagement is essential.<br/>Method: This study employed a Level 5 autonomous driving simulator with 27 participants performing NDRTs, specifically video watching and gaming tasks, under both conditions: with and without windshield visual information. An ANOVA analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of visual information control on NDRT flow states.<br/>Results: The findings showed a significant decrease in NDRT flow states when windshield visual information was blocked. Notably, participants with driving licenses experienced a pronounced impact, while those without licenses showed no significant difference in flow states between conditions.<br/>Conclusion: The blackout of windshield visual information affects NDRT flow states, particularly for participants with prior driving experience, highlighting the need to reconsider in-car interface design and information presentation in Level 5 autonomous vehicles.<br/>Application: This study offers valuable insights for optimizing NDRT experiences in fully autonomous vehicles, informing strategies for visual information control and user interface design.