Takeover Context Matters: Characterising Context of Takeover in Naturalistic Driving using Super Cruise and Autopilot

Takeover safety is a critical issue when using Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems. Understanding the context of takeover can facilitate the development of driver monitoring systems that can adapt to changing environments for more contextually appropriate assistance during takeover. The paper presents a hierarchical clustering analysis of hundreds of post-takeover vehicle kinematics in the MIT-AVT naturalistic driving study. Results show similar types of takeovers between Super Cruise and Autopilot: normal takeover, braking takeover, accelerating takeover, evasive-manoeuvre takeover, and right-swerve takeover (Autopilot only). Context analysis showed that braking takeover which occurred at a normal highway speed was often associated with upcoming highway exits and foreseeable low-speed situations, while accelerating, evasive-manoeuvre, and right-swerve takeovers were caused by strong brake (for Super Cruise) or large steering (for Autopilot) during slow car following. The findings indicate the potential for sensor-based approaches to assessing various contexts and facilitating a more holistic takeover reference model.