The Institute of Human Factors and Technology Management IAT of the University of Stuttgart is an experienced partner in conducting various user studies to evaluate and secure different levels of automated driving. The IAT does not only consider the drivers’, but also the pedestrians’ perspective. For example in the SAFEWAY2SCHOOL EU project, the IAT specifically analysed hazards that jeopardise children’s safety on the way to and from school. Accident databases, interviews and case analyses were used to specifically identify and counteract risk factors. In the BRAVE EU project, the IAT assessed the interaction of pedestrians with automated vehicles and established a basis for a pedestrian-vehicle simulation. In the InCarIn BMBF project, the IAT served as scientific coordinator of the project, cooperated with the Fraunhofer IOSB and owned the ELSI issues (ELSI = Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues). The IAT furthermore collected the user requirements, executed the user-centred evaluation of the system developed in the project, and was responsible for the transfer of knowledge into the project, regarding the use of gesture and posture recognition in the passenger compartment for predicting manoeuvres in particular.

As a global technology leader in virtual road testing, IPG Automotive develops innovative simulation solutions for vehicle development. Software and hardware products can be used throughout the development process. IPG Automotive is an expert in the field of virtual development methods for driver assistance and automated driving, powertrain, and driving dynamics application fields.

EDI analyzed more than 100.000 critical incidents in traffic, specifically focusing on the drivers' decision-making process in those situations. In this context, the human anticipation of hazards plays an essential role to avoid accidents as well as uncomfortable situations. The relevant driving context parameters of those incidents were identified and quantified regarding their contribution to the criticality of a specific traffic situation. On this basis, the Dynamic Risk Management Algorithm that anticipates hazards based on the driving context just like experienced human drivers were developed.

Fraunhofer IOSB and the University of Stuttgart conduct basic research and system development for image acquisition to image analysis. The department of Interactive Analysis and Diagnosis (IAD) develops innovative interaction methods and assistance systems. The focus is on among others the camera-based capture of people and their activities for multimodal man-machine interfaces in intelligent and proactive environments. In the vehicle interior, for example, these aspects were addressed in the InCarIn and PAKoS projects. The aim is to automatically evaluate the driver and passenger state and activities in the interior of vehicles.