The Case for Implicit External Human-Machine Interfaces for Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles' (AVs) interactions with pedestrians remain an ongoing uncertainty. Several studies have claimed the need for explicit external human-machine interfaces (eHMI) such as lights or displays to replace the lack of eye contact with and explicit gestures from drivers, however this need is not thoroughly understood. We review literature on explicit and implicit eHMI, and discuss results from a field study with a Wizard-of-Oz driverless vehicle that tested pedestrians' reactions in everyday traffic without explicit eHMI. While some pedestrians were surprised by the vehicle, others did not notice its autonomous nature, and all crossed in front without explicit signaling, suggesting that pedestrians may not need explicit eHMI in routine interactions—the car's implicit eHMI (its motion) may suffice.