Title page for ETD etd-07292010-020023
|Type of Document
||Gross, Florus Gerhardt
||The measurement and comparison of relative workloads under several driving conditions using a simulator.
||Master of Science
||Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
|Wierwille, Walter W.
|Price, Dennis L.
|Snyder, Harry L.
|Date of Defense
A secondary task measure was used to evaluate the effects of various
automobile handling characteristics on driver workload. The study was
performed using the VPI & SU driving simulator, a variable speed random
number generator and display, plus other control and recording equipment.
Workload scores for 82 subjects were determined under various combinations
of wind and curvature disturbances, vehicle steering gain, and
vehicle response time. Driving performance was analyzed to measure
intrusiveness of the secondary task and to confirm workload differences.
The results showed definite differences across the levels of combined
wind and curvature. These supported the assumption that the
secondary task measure would be capable of measuring differences in
driver workload. No significant differences in workload scores were
obtained for changes in steering gain or vehicle response time. The
secondary task did intrude on the primary task, indicating that its
use may cause experimental complications. The method and equipment
appear to be useable in either simulator or on-the-road vehicles.
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