The Consortium

Audi AG

The AUDI Group, with its brands AUDI, Ducati, and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 17 locations in 11 countries. Fully owned subsidiaries of AUDI AG include AUDI Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm, Germany), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy), and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).

In 2020, the AUDI Group delivered to customers about 1.693 million automobiles of the AUDI brand, 7,430 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand, and 48,042 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2019 fiscal year, the premium manufacturer achieved total revenue of €55.7 billion and an operating profit of €4.5 billion. At present, some 87,000 people work for the company all over the world, 60,000 of them in Germany. AUDI is becoming a provider of sustainable, customized premium mobility with new models, innovative mobility offerings and attractive services. More than 14,000 employees are currently working for R&D within AUDI AG.

All activities in this area are focused on developing pioneering and sustainable vehicle concepts to satisfy the high demands of the customers for ever better solutions. 

The principal topics in RUMBA

The focal point of the activities of AUDI in RUMBA is on humans in automated vehicles. The project investigates how the driver can make good use of the available time spent in the automated vehicle, how the vehicle occupants can interact with the automation, and what effect the automation and the vehicle interior have on the user. This results in three key issues: The concept and design of the vehicle interior, with a focus on the further development of conventional display and control elements, the design of the vehicle interior for SAE Level 4 vehicles, and the design of the automated driving style. With regard to the evaluation of the concepts, the focus is predominantly on the interactions between the individual design areas, in addition to the content of the individual key issues. AUDI AG is working on the project together with experts from three specialist areas.

The Pre-Development Chassis/Automated Driving department contributes its expertise along the entire event chain of implementing automated driving functions. Aside from functional aspects, this also includes analyzing the interaction between humans and automated driving functions. One key focus is on designing the driving behavior of the automated vehicle and the HMI for the driving function, taking the user’s needs and expectations into account.

The Development Ergonomic Concepts department of AUDI AG specializes in the user-friendly design of the interior as well as research into new display, warning, and operation concept solutions with a focus on system ergonomics with the aim of improving the human/machine interface. This takes into account the requirements that different user groups have for a product. One important focus of our work is on the conceptual design, implementation, and evaluation of analyses in terms of (system) ergonomics for the purpose of validating ergonomic properties in interior mock-ups and demonstration vehicles. The department also has prior knowledge on the development and evaluation of interaction concepts that adapt to the driver’s condition for driver assist systems.

The Development Innovations User Experience/User Interface department focuses on the user experience with the display and control elements in the vehicle as part of pre-development and innovation projects. The department offers skills in the areas of requirements definition, multimodal HMI and operating concept development with innovative concepts, display and control elements and their evaluation in various experimental settings in particular.

AUDI is therefore represented with content in work packages 1–5. AUDI will take on the leadership role in WP4 due to the planned construction of two demonstration vehicles and one interior mock-up.

MAN Truck & Bus SE

MAN Truck & Bus is one of Europe’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers; it provides transport solutions and has an annual turnover of over 9.5 billion euros (2020). Its product portfolio includes vans, trucks, buses, diesel and gas engines and a range of services relating to the transport of passengers and goods. MAN Truck & Bus is a TRATON SE company.

The principal topics in RUMBA

In the RUMBA project, MAN Truck & Bus SE focuses on the analysis of future requirements for automated commercial vehicles from a user and expert perspective as well as on the conception and implementation of truck cabin concepts for automated driving. Based on the analysis of requirements, the aim is to identify future application scenarios and to create different interior concepts adapted to these scenarios. Following, these concepts will be evaluated iteratively. Along the way, the interior concepts developed by MAN Truck & Bus SE in RUMBA will be tangible and evaluable both in virtual reality (VR) and in a modular test bench.

Robert Bosch GmbH

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 395,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2020). The company generated sales of 71.5 billion euros in 2020. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT provider, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, Industry 4.0, and connected mobility. Bosch is pursuing a vision of mobility that is sustainable, safe, and exciting. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to facilitate connected living with products and solutions that either contain artificial intelligence (AI) or have been developed or manufactured with its help. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. With its more than 400 locations worldwide, the Bosch Group has been carbon neutral since the first quarter of 2020. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 129 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 73,000 associates in research and development, of which nearly 34,000 are software engineers. 

The principal topics in RUMBA

One of the main themes of the RUMBA project is increasing occupant comfort and avoiding motion sickness through an effective combination of driving dynamics measures and HMI elements while at the same time taking into consideration the current condition of the user. The driving dynamics measures encompass the driving strategy, trajectory planning and regulation, and new concepts for explicitly factoring in a rear-axle steering system. The measures are combined with HMI elements or compared with them in order to analyze the effectiveness.

In the area of user condition monitoring, the main focus is on the design and development of a user condition monitoring system, including assessment methods for judging comfort/discomfort. Studies for the purpose of collecting ground truth data are to be carried out in order to provide a basis and starting point for the development of comfort assessment methods. Additional follow-up studies will be carried out to evaluate the developed measures.

Given the broad scope of the project and associated necessary expertise, Robert Bosch GmbH is responsible for leading and coordinating the project.

Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH

The principal topics in RUMBA

CanControls GmbH

CanControls GmbH is an innovative company founded in 2005. The company’s core competencies lie in the area of innovative, intuitive human-machine interfaces, real-time image processing and video-based scene analysis.

Main focus in RUMBA

In RUMBA CanControls is focusing on the development of driver status detection. This is performed as follows:

• The conception of the sensors for the acquisition of features for the description of the driver’s state.
• The determination of the features with the help of suitable algorithms.
• The interpretation of the features related to motion sickness and readiness to take over.

Based on the initial definition of use cases and user states, various concepts are developed and evaluated in order to determine sensors with which relevant features can be extracted. A key factor here will be the simulation of various installation locations and testing them in order to legitimate the increased freedom of movement of the passengers in the SAE level 4 automation level.

The further and new development of the extraction of relevant features is a critical component of the driver’s state detection, since the estimators of the readiness to take over, the driving comfort and the motion sickness to be developed are based on it. The reliability and accuracy of existing methods should be increased and additional methods, especially in the area of ​​visual vital parameter recognition, should provide additional information about the driver’s state.

The extracted features are used to develop estimators for the takeover readiness and the state of motion sickness. In doing so, it is examined which expressiveness the features have in each case and which methods are suitable for developing the estimator.

As part of the implementation and evaluation of the driver status detection, CanControls GmbH will provide part of the interior sensors for driver status detection. This includes color, depth and thermal cameras.

CanControls GmbH focuses on WP6 and takes over its management.

OHP GmbH

OHP Optik Haptik Prototyping GmbH (KMU) has been active in the field of prototypes and small series for vehicle interiors for over 20 years. With 30 employees in the areas of prototyping, mold making and design, we generate an annual turnover of approximately 4 million euros.

We are specialists in the processing of plastics and metals, as well as their combination to assemblies with electronics or mechanics.

The principal topics in RUMBA

In the RUMBA project, we want to use various prototypes and processes to demonstrate the possibilities that can be realized in the area of flexible design. Furthermore, we want to contribute our know-how in the different project phases. Technical consulting for the implementation and the corresponding material selection. Here we see in particular a close cooperation with the University of Stuttgart, studiokurbos and MAN.

Spiegel Institut Mannheim GmbH

Spiegel Institut is a research and consulting institute for consumer research and user experience consulting with a worldwide network of partner institutes. Founded in 1950 by Prof. Dr. Bernt Spiegel as the first market psychology institute in Germany, it has a strong automotive focus. It supports automotive manufacturers and suppliers in the user-centric product development of vehicles, systems and components. Therefore, all German premium car manufacturers are among its customers.

The principal topics in RUMBA

In this project, the Spiegel institut will contribute its many years of expertise in qualitative market research and user experience research to explicitly support partners in the truck sector. In addition, close coordination loops for method selection and -development are planned with our research partners from the passenger car sector. In particular, we will bring our experience to the identification and analysis of user and other stakeholder requirements, as well as developing relevant quantifiable UX metrics (WP 1).

A particular focus here is on testing novel measurement techniques for ethnographic remote requirements elicitation. As part of RUMBA, we are developing an app specifically tailored to the target group of truck drivers and other stakeholders in the truck sector. A method evaluation ensures to what extent the remote app can provide an increase in knowledge compared to classical methods.

The UX metrics defined in WP 1 will be used throughout the further course of the project to measure the extent to which the concepts and prototypes developed meet usage requirements. This is done within our second focus, namely the early evaluation of concept approaches from paper prototypes to VR solutions to extensive demonstrators: Here, Spiegel Institut will contribute its empirical experience from numerous VR and simulator studies as well as user surveys.

The Spiegel Institut will also use its expertise in user-centered HMI development to support the design of suitable user interfaces (WP 2).

studiokurbos GmbH

studiokurbos GmbH (KMU) is an internationally active design studio focused on future vehicle concepts, interior and exterior design as well as user experience, user interface and color & material design for the automotive industry.

studiokurbos counts 30 employees with backgrounds in various applied sciences. Their competencies are organized in three teams: Automotive & Product Design (APD), Computer-Aided-Design (CAD), and User-Interface/User-Experience (UI/UX).

Customers of studiokurbos are automotive manufacturers and suppliers, electronics manufacturers, research institutes, think tanks as well as mobility startups.

The principal topics in RUMBA

studiokurbos offers a wide-ranging expertise in the field of interior implementation to the RUMBA project, in particular the development of display and control concepts, and can refer to fundamental experience in large-scale realization. Specific topics are user-centered design process, user evaluation, method development in the field of “digital design & development process” as well as effect and perception of design.

Based on its competenices in user-centered design and the holistic approach to the development of new interior concepts, studiokurbos’ main content focus lies in work package 2. Particularly in the sub work packages 2.2 conception of the basic layout, 2.3 conception of the occupant posture and the development of a flexible seating concept and further more in the sub work packages 2.6 and 2.7 in the development of service and display concepts.

Additionally, work package 4 for the realization of the concepts, specifically sub work packages 4.5 realization of display and operation, and 4.6 realization of the interior, is another focus of studiokurbos within the RUMBA project. With its expertise in digital form finding and digital form evaluation, studiokurbos contributes significantly to the development of prototypes.

Würzburger Institut für Verkehrswissenschaften

The Würzburg Institute for Traffic Sciences (WIVW) is a company providing research services on human factors issues in the field of mobility and transport. Currently, the interdisciplinary team of the WIVW comprises about 40 employees with different scientific backgrounds (e.g. psychology, human-computer systems, computer science). In addition to project work, WIVW develops and distributes the SILAB driving simulation software. Their clients in both divisions include renowned private and public organizations.

The principal topics in RUMBA

In RUMBA, the WIVW will build a generic L4 simulator in which typical use cases of fully automated driving can be represented. The WIVW focuses particularly on the design of the use case sleeping. For sleeping during fully automated driving, comfort as well as passenger safety should be ensured. Therefore, the concept evaluation focuses on the quality and safety of takeover situations out of sleep. Alternative operating concepts developed by the project partners and their benefits for takeover will also be evaluated.

Another focus of the WIVW in RUMBA is the investigation of motion sickness. Due to the possibility of carrying out non-driving related tasks, the risk of motion sickness increases for passengers during fully automated driving. To avoid and reduce motion sickness, the WIVW examines influencing factors and countermeasures.

The WIVW also contributes to the selection and development of appropriate evaluation methods. The WIVW participates in concept evaluation and, thus, has the opportunity to collect extensive user data. The WIVW processes this data for other project partners and makes it available for the development of driver state recognition systems.

Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart

Hochschule der Medien (https://www.hdm-stuttgart.de) is a public university (funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg) which teaches media specialists. Hochschule der Medien covers a broad spectrum of media expertise: from printed media to electronic media, from design to business administration, from library science to advertising, from content for media to packaging technology, from computer science to information science to publishing and electronic media. About 30 accredited Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes mirror this diversity. At the moment, about 5500 students are enrolled at the university. The professorship for market and advertising research under the direction of Arnd Engeln is integrated into the modi Institute (Institute for mobility and digital innovation, https://modi.institute/) at the Faculty “Electronic Media” of the HdM on the one hand and into the research focus IDUX (Interaction Design and User Experience, https://www.hdm-stuttgart.de/idux) on the other hand.

The principal topics in RUMBA

The main focus in RUMBA – in relation to car drivers – is the scientifically based identification of psychological user needs and requirements, which are determined with the help of differentiated empirical methods. Furthermore, this enables to work out partially or not conscious, but very experience-relevant backgrounds of the user experience. HdM processes the results for the development of solutions and transfers them to the project partners (WP1). HdM takes over the leadership of WP1. For the empirically based development of user-friendly, interactive systems to generate a positive user experience while ensuring traffic safety, empirical methods of the user-centred development process are applied and developed further in RUMBA.

Further focal points are iterative rapid prototyping and design thinking for the development of low- and mid-fidelity prototypes (WP2 and WP4) and for the empirical evaluation of high-fidelity prototypes (WP5) [1]. Rapid prototyping refers to the design of interactions and controls as well as to the interior design of the vehicle cabin.

[1]Low-fidelity prototypes are defined here as idea/concept concretizations generated with simple means (“paper prototypes” such as user narratives, cardboard models, interaction sketches), mid-fidelity prototypes as simulation environments (e.g. driving simulation, VR, click dummies) and high-fidelity prototypes as technically functional prototypes (e.g. test vehicle) that can be tested in real environments.

Universität Stuttgart

The research and teaching department Industrial Design Engineering of the IKTD at the University of Stuttgart addresses user-centered issues at the intersection of ergonomics, design and technology. Particular areas of research are automotive design, interface design, design methodology and corporate design. A strong expertise exists in the dimensional conception and layout of vehicle interiors, in the analysis and development of haptic control systems as well as in the evaluation of suitable methods and tools along the design process and the ergonomic validation. Modern tools such as RAMSIS, a digital human manikin, CAD systems, and ergonomics and haptics test benches are used to realize the studies.

The principal topics in RUMBA

Within RUMBA, the IKTD focuses on the systematic design of innovative interior concepts for passenger cars and trucks, taking into account a user-centered dimensional concept and a spatial effect that addresses increased occupant comfort, especially the perception of safety. Due to its expertise in these areas, the institute also has the lead in the conceptual AP 2. Another focus is the ergonomic design and evaluation of innovative human-machine interfaces including control and display elements. Conceptual tools such as digital human models are used for the design. Prototypes, such as 3D printed parts with anthropometric contours, are used for real-world validation. The layout and design of both the vehicle interiors and the human-machine interfaces are designed according to an appropriate methodology. Design and usability methods such as user-centered vehicle layout conception, the comfort model, and the micro- and macro-ergonomics approach ensure that the interior and in-vehicle operations are designed for a wide variety of users and are intuitive and safe to handle.

CARIAD SE

CARIAD is an automotive software and technology company that bundles together Volkswagen Group’s software competencies and further expands them, building upon a heritage of bringing automotive innovation to everyone. Established in 2020, over 6,000 developers, engineers and designers worldwide unify their knowledge at CARIAD. Their mission: transforming cars into software-defined vehicles that seamlessly integrate the automotive experience into our digital life, turning the Volkswagen Group into a software-driven mobility provider. More information at https://cariad.technology

The principal topics in RUMBA

In the RUMBA project, CARIAD’s focus is on the implementation of a driving function under consideration of user needs and expectations. To form a customer oriented automated driving experience, CARIAD relys on the conscious design of the driving behavior of the automated vehicle in close connection with the concept development of the automation-related HMI. The department ADAS&AD Predevelopment contributes its know-how on the entire software stack of automated driving functions and human factors in automated driving.