Constructing a Mental Model of Automation Levels in the Area of Vehicle Guidance

The aim of this work was to construct a mental model of automation in the area of vehicle guidance. The users’ understanding and mental model affect the safety and user experience. The qualitative method Card Sorting was applied with 25 participants. The task was to categorize cards on driving automation according to the participants’ own understanding. Analysis showed that the mental model of automation in the area of vehicle guidance is made up of three levels: the level “Information and Driver” incorporates functions, which do not influence lateral and longitudinal guidance of the vehicle. Systems that interfere or control the lateral and longitudinal guidance of the vehicle are included in the level “Assisted to Automated Driving”. The level “Autonomous Driving” specifies systems that operate the vehicle independently while no driver has to be present. Findings indicate a mismatch between the mental model of users and well-known taxonomies of automated driving.