Research

The Neurocognitive Driving Test Field was established in 2015 in collaboration with the traffic telematics research group (FGVT, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Horst Wieker) at htw saar. Here, a novel approach to traffic telematics based on the neurocognitive assessment of road users (car drivers/codrivers and pedestrians) by electroencephalographic methods is being developed.

The test field combines modern communication structures of traffic telematics with dual neurocognitive monitoring (driver and codriver). This allows an out-of-lab measurement and the analysis of attentional and emotional states in real traffic situations, preclassified by their complexity. Analysis methods include objective multimodal estimation of cognitive effort caused by the driving task, allowing the objective evaluation and optimization of single HMI modalities. By integration into the ITS Test Field Merzig (ITeM), the Neurocognitive Driving Test Field has access to state-of-the-art technology of cooperative traffic telematics (C-ITS). Thus, the influence of novel applications supported by telematics (e.g. traffic light information systems, electronic brake lights etc.) on the cognitive load of the driver can be studied in detail.