ITEC810 Self-Driving Cars and Human Factors - Research Proposal

• Introduction 

• Problem Context 

The self-driving cars are blessing of modern technology, yet it has numerous risks associated with it, as technology is not as intelligent as human mind is. It has been unveiled from the analysis of previous sources of information that AVs have substantial issues associated with it, which could cause accidents, morality and ethical issues within society. Thus, this report has chosen to identify issues associated with autonomous driving such that technological improvements can be brought. 

• Problem Statement and Research Question

AVs have changed the outlook of transportation industry, but it is not yet trusted by the society, based on the fact that it many has associated issues. These vehicles cannot make informed and rational judgment while driving and any failure might lead to adverse consequences for individuals as well as society. Likewise, the aspect of morality and ethicality cannot be linked with AVs as it is solely linked with human rationality and intelligence and thus this project is aimed to investigate the issues associated with self-driving cars. 

The focused research aimed at answering the following research question;

• Can artificial intelligence in self-driving cars replace the human intelligence regarding handling of difficult situations, ethical decision making, safety and morality? 

• Aims and Significance 

The main aim of this project is to explore the morality, safety and social issues associated with self-driving cars, such that suggestions can be made to enhance the safety and benefits of these cars, while minimising the disadvantages. 

The underlying research will be highly significant as it will investigate number of issues which are being associated with driverless vehicles. The insight of issues will aid in recognising the disadvantages of AVs and thus practitioners might take steps to enhance benefits of self-driving cars. It has been noted from the study of Endsley (2017) that absence of human factors in technologically driven vehicles, causes lack of trust among humans regarding the usage and safety of self-driving cars. The significance of this study will be reflected in the notion that it will offer guidance through which self-driving vehicles can be improved by incorporation of human factors in these vehicles. Therefore, the differences of machine and human rationality will be highlighted and future researchers will be encouraged to further explore the ways through which trust of humans can be enhanced on self-driving vehicles. 

• Expected Outcomes

The results of this study are expected to highlight that how replacement of human involvement and human rationality from automated and self-driving cars has led to the creation of safety and morality issue in transportation sector. Additionally, the in-depth research about self-driving will unveil multiple risks of these vehicles and it will enable the researcher to extend recommendations through which usability and excellence of these self-driving cars can be enhanced for contemporary users. This research report can be considered as an important paradigm to understand about the functional effectiveness of self-driving cars and thus it might help in recognising the ways through which benefits of automation can be further enhanced for users and transportation sector.