Physiological evaluation of effect on driver's mental work load for a newly-developed semi-automatic transmission system

✍ Scribed by Yoshitaka Nishiyama; Takeyoshi Nakazono; Masakazu Sasaki; Yoshito Watanabe

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 486 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0389-4304
• DOI: 10.1016/s0389-4304(96)00033-1

✦ Synopsis

A qualitative evaluation was made on how a newly-developed semi-automatic transmission system "ESCOT" (Easy, Safe Controlled Transmission) reduced the mental work load on drivers, by measuring their physiological reactions. Heart rate, brain waves (B-waves), and galvanic skin response clearly changed under driving conditions that increased the driver's mental work load, such as when shifting gears, braking and turning at a crossing. From these measurements, a mental work load index was empirically derived. The average mental work load index for long-distance driving was reduced by about 30% when driving a tractor equipped with the ESCOT system compared to the conventional 12-speed manual transmission.