SEE - Sight Effectiveness Enhancement. Results of the automotive evaluation

In the SEE project two parallel evaluations have been conducted, an experimental trial of the automotive and another of the aeronautical application. The evaluations have measured the efficiency and HMI (human-machine interaction) characteristics of the SEE prototype. This report covers the automotive part of the evaluation.

The evaluation of the automotive application was carried out in computer simulated environments and followed the general objectives of the evaluation described in ‘Definition of the Evaluation Plan’1. The field experiment discussed, however, was given up due to lack of control of the experimental variables, especially the variability of foggy conditions.

The simulation-based experiment reported here was conducted as a repeated measures design involving 20 subjects, all experienced in driving in all kinds of weather. The objective of the evaluation was to assess the possible advantage of having the SEE system available in three weather conditions: day with fog, night in clear weather and night with fog.

Assessment was based on subjects’ detecting, recognising and reacting to hazardous situations in traffic in a simulated ride. Two measures were used: Objective measure: a comparison of reaction times for identical scenarios, but under different weather conditions. Subjective measure: a questionnaire assessing the subjects’ opinions regarding the perceived enhancement of visibility gained by the infrared images compared to normal conditions (not having the infrared images available).

Results of the evaluation showed a comprehensive improvement for night vision in clear weather, whereas no enhancement was demonstrated during foggy conditions. In this report, we discuss and document the fact that the results of the experimental evaluation clash with the experience gained when assessing the SEE prototype during test rides carried out in Germany during foggy conditions.

The reasons for the difference in performance of the real SEE system and the simulated system appear to do with the parameterization of the simulated fog, which is described briefly in the main text of this report and in detail in Appendix 8. Results of the subjective measures, the questionnaire data, reveal positive attitudes toward the SEE system.