SAE international TECHNICAL PAPERS

Paper Number: 912730 DOI: 10.4271/912730

Citation: Zhai, S., "An Information Structural Model of Vehicle Navigation and Its Implications," SAE Technical Paper 912730, 1991, doi: 10.4271/912730. Author(s): Shumin Zhai - University of Toronto

This paper proposes a simple model to provide a framework for investigating human behavior with vehicle navigation aids. This model consists of planning, decision- making, control, and perception. Decisions are made by comparing perceived cues from the outside view with the expected cues from planning. VNA assist mainly in dynamic planning, providing support and updating to the cognitive map, navigators have of their environment. VNA aims at assisting drivers in car navigation; human capabilities and vehicle is traveling through. 2. It has a capability of locating the current position of the vehicle. 3. There is an algorithm making dynamic suggestions on route selection. 4. It has an interface, which presents the navigation model to the human driver. limitations have to be incorporated in VNA designs. To date research in vehicle navigation has not provided sufficient models to support such designs. There are many aspects of vehicle navigation with VNA have not been intensively addressed with models. The interactions between the human driver, the machine and the natural view of the environment is one of them. A VNA system is assumed to have at least the following Characteristics 1. It has a database of navigation information. The database provides geographical and other relevant information about the area that the geographical and other relevant information about the area that the vehicle is traveling through. 2. It has a capability of locating the current position of the vehicle. 3. There is an algorithm making dynamic suggestions on route selection. 4. It has an interface, which presents the navigation model to the human

driver A MODEL IN TRADITIONAL VEHICLE DRIVING Fig. 1 shows the basic activities and their information relations in traditional car driving without VNA. The human driver constantly observes the environment catching a variety of cues, such as road signs, trees and buildings. The perceived cues are then compared with the expected cues in drivers memory. The expected cues are created from the drivers planning activity. When the driver cannot match the perceived cues with the expected cues for a period of time, he/she is loosing his/her orientation. There are two basic characteristics of expected cues. 1. These cues are not necessarily clearly recalled information instead; they might be vague information in the drivers memory. The driver may not be able to precisely predict the next view. But he can expect some features that can be recognized when they are seen. 2. These cues are basically discrete. Drivers do not necessarily constantly expect navigational cues instead they take heed of landmarks as needed. In traditional car driving both planning and decision- making are based on a cognitive map, the drivers mental model of the external world he is moving through. The perception component has to provide two kinds of information: Navigational cues mentioned above are guidance cues such as vehicles on the road. To compare and integrate expected cues with the perceived cues could also be difficult . MODEL WITH NAVIGATION AIDS

Fig. 1. Navigational model without VNA

Fig. 2. Navigational model with VNA Fig. 2 presents the information structure of vehicle navigation activities with VNA. In addition to the components in figure 1, another four basic VNA functions are added in this model. The route selection algorithm in VNA makes suggestions according to the electronic database and current vehicle location. The suggestions and instructions from VNA are presented to the driver through the display interface. In this new scenario, both planning and decision processes are based on two channels: 1. Natural view system, supported by the drivers cognitive map. 2. VNA dis play supported by an electronic database. The information from the VNA channel will greatly reduce a drivers dependence on his cognitive map. Suggestions and instructions form VNA should change dynamically according to the vehicles current position, which is

the result of the interactions of the driver, machine and the environment. The human driver has to integrate natural cues and navigational aids. The orientation of the electronic map should be in accordance with the vehicles heading.