Easy to handle: Exploring users’ interactions with an augmented reality human-machine interface for virtual stops in automated on-demand mobility scenarios

• Exploratory VR study investigating user interaction with a novel human–machine interface for virtual stops (vStop HMI) to support passengers in SAMOD user journeys using a simulated augmented reality (AR) smartphone. • In a navigation scenario, a vStop HMI with restricted AR information while walking was compared against a baseline. Both variants improved user experience and acceptance, although information restriction partly increased workload. • In a shuttle identification scenario, the vStop HMI enhanced efficiency, with positive ratings for workload, user experience, and acceptance. • The vStop AR HMI has the potential to improve service quality along the SAMOD user journey and to increase acceptance of future shared, automated, on-demand mobility services. For the success of future shared automated mobility on-demand (SAMOD) a high quality of service needs to be assured. One key challenge lies in the passenger journey, particularly in finding the designated virtual stop (vStop) for pick-up and identifying the approaching shuttle. Therefore, the new vStop human-machine interface (vStop HMI) concept supports passengers with means of augmented reality (AR). This explorative user study with young adults (N = 44) used a virtual reality (VR) setup to simulate the AR-based vStop HMI and answers two research questions across two consecutive scenarios: (1) When using an AR-based navigation aid like the vStop HMI, users tend to focus heavily on their device while walking, which may increase the risk of negligent roadside behavior. While restricting AR information access during walking might reduce this risk, how does it affect overall user experience? To examine this, we compared a vStop HMI with restricted AR information access against a baseline condition. Results showed positive effects on user experience and acceptance for both HMI versions, although workload was partly negatively affected. (2) When identifying the approaching shuttle, does using the vStop HMI effectively assist users in doing so and lead to positive user experience? Usability testing indicated positive rates of workload, user experience, and acceptance during the shuttle identification task. Overall, the findings suggest that selectively restricting AR information during navigation tasks can help mitigate undesired user behavior in roadside environments while maintaining high levels of pragmatic quality and acceptance. Moreover, the vStop HMI enables seamless shuttle identification, even under complex conditions. By improving these critical stages of the passenger journey, the vStop HMI concept has the potential to enhance the overall quality of SAMOD services and increase public acceptance of future shared, automated, demand-responsive transportation systems.