This project is exploring and advancing vehicle designs to meet the requirements of disabled, elderly and potentially marginalised users of shared autonomous transport systems, and investigates how supporting these users benefits the wider population.
At a glance
- Inclusive design methods such as co-design, empathy, design anthropology and journey mapping are key research approaches for observing, interpreting and translating people’s needs into vehicle designs.
- The project aims to conceive, test and verify inclusive designs for shared autonomous vehicles, creating pragmatic vehicle design guidance for future autonomous vehicle systems.
- The outputs of this research aim to benefit autonomous vehicle designs so they can be accessed and used by as many people as possible.
Key details
More information
The challenge
Studies show that those who would particularly benefit from shared autonomous vehicles are individuals whose current mobility needs are poorly served by current transportation systems, particularly in rural areas. Often public transport is not inclusive enough, door to door solutions are not well developed, and low-income users are unable to afford the customised personal mobility solutions. As implementation of autonomous transport systems accelerates, there is an opportunity for autonomous vehicles to increase the accessibility of mobility and reduce costs for marginalised populations by providing journey sharing, door to door pick-up and drop-off services and advanced journey scheduling.
Outputs
PhD thesis
Lead
Robin Severs
PhD student
