AR-based Merging Assistance at Expressway and Its Verification

This paper tries to support merging behavior by providing information about the behavior of the mainline vehicle as a next-generation human-machine interface based on augmented reality (AR). Specifically, our system indicates the timing in which the merging vehicle cannot merge by using AR to the driver. This information is generated based on the position and speed of the mainline vehicle. In this study, a virtual reality (VR) driving simulator that can measure the gaze was developed for experiments. By utilizing the VR driving simulator, driving experiments that provide various kinds of information including AR to the merging vehicle was performed. Also, by gaze analysis, we verify the burden on the driver of checking the mainline is reduced by the information provisioning. Furthermore, the timing of the merging is measured to evaluate the safety and smoothness of the merging. The experimental results suggested that providing the unsuitable timing of merging by AR enables the driver to understand easily the condition of the mainline.