DEV: A Driver-Environment-Vehicle Closed-Loop Framework for Risk-Aware Adaptive Automation of Driving

Abstract: The increasing integration of automation in vehicles aims to enhance both safety and comfort, but it also introduces new risks, including driver disengagement, reduced situation awareness, and mode confusion. In this work, we propose the DEV framework, a closed-loop framework for risk-aware adaptive driving automation that captures the dynamic interplay between the driver, the environment, and the vehicle. The framework promotes to continuously adjusting the operational level of automation based on a risk management strategy. The real-time risk assessment supports smoother transitions and effective cooperation between the driver and the automation system. Furthermore, we introduce a nomenclature of indexes corresponding to each core component, namely driver involvement, environment complexity, and vehicle engagement, and discuss how their interaction influences driving risk. The DEV framework offers a comprehensive perspective to align multidisciplinary research efforts and guide the development of dynamic, risk-aware driving automation systems.