University of Michigan and Toyota Research Institute Test Haptic Steering Wheel for Semiautonomous Negotiation

Researchers at the University of Michigan Engineering and the Toyota Research Institute have developed a specialized steering wheel interface that allows drivers to negotiate steering decisions directly with semiautonomous vehicle software, according to a report by TechXplore .

The experimental hardware places expandable haptic zones at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions on the steering wheel. Rather than relying solely on visual alerts or auditory chimes, the wheel inflates or contracts to signal the vehicle's planned direction. Drivers can squeeze the inflated zone to register disagreement and negotiate an alternate path before the vehicle takes action.

"To improve driver communication with automation, we added two haptic zones onto a steering wheel at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock that can expand or contract to express the intention of the automated system," said Hannah Báez, a robotics Ph.D. student at the University of Michigan and lead author of the study published in Human Factors. "Drivers could agree or disagree with the automated system by squeezing the haptic zones, which allowed them to negotiate with the system before a given action to resolve any conflict."

During simulated driving tests, participants navigated turns where the driver and the automated system could agree or disagree on navigation choices, alongside unexpected obstacles. The steering wheel inflated on the side of the software's intended turn and pulsed if an obstacle appeared in the driver's planned path.

Compared to silent operation or one-way visual displays, the two-way haptic interface yielded measurable performance improvements. "We found that drivers drove better when negotiating with the automated system through haptic feedback," said Brent Gillespie, senior author of the study and robotics professor at the University of Michigan. "Drivers displayed smoother, more accurate driving paths, fought less with automation and used less braking with more confidence in their maneuvers."

Participants also reported lower frustration, reduced physical demand, and lower workload. When the automated driving system made errors, such as missing an obstacle or triggering a false warning, the negotiation mechanism restored driver trust faster than conventional one-way alerts. However, the study authors observed that some participants developed excessive trust in the automation after successful negotiations, indicating a need for additional study.

The study was co-authored by Haochi Pan and Nadine Sarter of the University of Michigan, as well as Jean Costa and John Gideon of the Toyota Research Institute. The underlying technology is covered under U.S. patent US12227190B2, filed with assistance from U-M Innovation Partnerships.