Exploration of a soldier-machine user interface for cooperative highly automated convoy management

Automated truck driving in the form of automated convoys is on the threshold from research to series development. In the Interoperable Robotic Convoy (InterRoC) project of the German Armed Forces, autonomy kits (A-kits) were integrated into two logistics vehicles. Part of the development of such complex systems consisting of people, technology, organization and environment is the examination of the overall system, e.g. with regard to performance, safety and usability with the help of standardized test cases. These test cases were developed and test schemes were created. Initial real vehicle tests were then carried out based on these test cases. These initial tests clearly showed the significance of the human-machine interface (HMI) as an important component of the automation system. The HMIs currently in use were therefore examined and evaluated in detail and a new soldier-machine interface was designed based on the results. This HMI was tested in a simulator study and also with a robot convoy in order to gain insights for a general, cross-system standard for convoy management user interfaces.