• Self-driving pods have large 'virtual eyes' to interact with other road users
• Intelligent pods make 'eye contact' with pedestrians to signal intent
• Engineers work with psychologists to understand human trust in self-driving vehicles

Coventry, UK. 28 August 2018: Jaguar Land Rover has fitted 'virtual eyes' to intelligent pods to understand how humans will trust self-driving vehicles, as research studies suggest that as many as 63% of pedestrians worry about how safe it will be to cross the road in the future.

The friendly-faced 'eye pods' have a vital job: helping work out how much information future self-driving cars should share with users or pedestrians to ensure that people trust the technology.

As part of the engineering project, Jaguar Land Rover has enlisted the help of a team of cognitive psychologists to better understand how vehicle behaviour affects human confidence in new technology. The trust trials form part of Jaguar Land Rover's government-supported UK Autodrive project.

The intelligent pods, run autonomously on a fabricated street scene in Coventry, while the behaviour of pedestrians is analysed as they wait to cross the road. The 'eyes' have been devised by a team of advanced engineers, working in Jaguar Land Rover's Future Mobility division. The pods seek out the pedestrian - appearing to 'look' directly at them - signalling to road users that it has identified them, and intends to take avoiding action.    

Engineers record trust levels in the person before and after the pod makes 'eye contact' to find out whether it generates sufficient confidence that it would stop for them. Previous studies suggest as many 63% of pedestrians and cyclists say they'd feel less safe sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle*.

Safety remains the number one priority as Jaguar Land Rover invests in self-driving technology, becoming automotive leaders in autonomous, connected, electric and shared mobility. The trial is aligned with the brand's long-term strategic goals: to make cars safer, free up people's valuable time and improve mobility for everyone.

Pete Bennett, Future Mobility Research Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, said: "It's second-nature to glance at the driver of the approaching vehicle before stepping into the road. Understanding how this translates in tomorrow's more automated world is important.

"We want to know if it is beneficial to provide humans with information about a vehicle's intentions or whether simply letting a pedestrian know it has been recognised is enough to improve confidence."

The trials are part of a wider study exploring how future connected and autonomous vehicles can replicate human behaviour and reactions when driving. As part of the study, more than 500 test subjects have been studied interacting with the self-driving pods, designed by UK Autodrive partner Aurrigo.
ENDS

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NOTES TO EDITORS
https://newsroom.aaa.com/2018/05/aaa-american-trust-autonomous-vehicles-slips/

The trust research is just one part of Jaguar Land Rover's involvement with the UK Autodrive project. UK Autodrive is the largest of UK consortia launched to support the introduction of self-driving vehicles into the UK, bringing together leading technology and automotive businesses, forward-thinking local authorities and academic institutions to deliver a major three-year UK trial of autonomous and connected vehicle technologies taking place in Milton Keynes and Coventry.

About Aurrigo / RDM
Aurrigo is the autonomous vehicle division of RDM Group, a privately-owned business based in Coventry that is leading the world when it comes to 'first and last mile' transport solutions.
 
With over 25 years' experience in providing automotive technology and transport solutions, the firm designs and develops autonomous vehicles from the ground up, including the autonomous control systems and offers a full 'in the field' operating service.
 
The company, which is also working on the UK Autodrive project, currently employs 70 people and has international offices in Australia, Canada and the United States.
www.aurrigo.com

About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world's leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world's premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.

We employ more than 44,000 people globally and support around 260,000 more through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. Manufacturing is centred in the UK, with additional plants in China, Brazil, Austria and Slovakia. 

At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2017 Jaguar Land Rover sold 621,109 vehicles in 130 countries, with more than 80 per cent of our vehicles being sold abroad. 

Our innovation is continuous: we will spend in the region of £4.5 billion this year on new product creation and capital expenditure.

From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will have an electrified option, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer ultra-clean petrol and diesel engines.