SAFERent: Design of a Driver Training Application for Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

Research shows that drivers rarely consult the vehicle owner’s manual to learn to operate advanced safety features, like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). Students from a United States university participated in a national competition, called EcoCAR Mobility Challenge (sponsored by the Department of Energy), to develop an engaging solution that is efficient and effective in educating drivers about the operation of ACC while adhering to user-centered design methodology. Students used an iterative design process and collected quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a mobile application. Iterations of the prototype included an interactive guide, video components, remote connection to the vehicle, and ultimately a solution that could reside on the vehicle’s infotainment system. This paper details the process and evaluation outcomes and serves as a model for user-centered design of tutorials for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).