Mike Hua
Urban Planning | Design | Engineering
We are part of Design for America at Rice University, an organization with chapters in 36 universities that gives students the opportunity to tackle social challenges using the human-centered design process. We were partnered with Fiat-Chrysler Auto

Crosstalk

September 2017 - February 2018

Crosstalk is a multidisciplinary student team that designed a system that enables autonomous vehicle to pedestrian communication at crosswalks. I worked in a team of engineering, cognitive science, architecture, and sociology students to conduct user research, uncover critical insights, ideate designs, test and iterate prototypes, and ultimately present our proof-of-concept design to executives and designers at Fiat Chrysler.

We are part of Design for America at Rice University, an organization with chapters in 36 universities that gives students the opportunity to tackle social challenges using the human-centered design process. We were partnered with Fiat-Chrysler Auto

We are part of Design for America at Rice University, an organization with chapters in 36 universities that gives students the opportunity to tackle social challenges using the human-centered design process. We were partnered with Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles, who tasked teams to design solutions to help increase safety during the introduction of autonomous vehicles.

We decided to narrow our scope to focus on pedestrian and bike safety at stop sign intersections. Currently, with non-AV's, pedestrians currently play a "game of chicken" at unlighted crosswalks, relying on eye contact and hand waves to communicate

We decided to narrow our scope to focus on pedestrian and bike safety at stop sign intersections. Currently, with non-AV's, pedestrians currently play a "game of chicken" at unlighted crosswalks, relying on eye contact and hand waves to communicate with drivers. The pedestrian's feeling of safety hinges on the driver acknowledging the presence of the pedestrian. With an AV, the vehicle, not the human driver, is in control. There is no method for the car to have that same interaction with a pedestrian. We ideated around these insights.

How can we improve pedestrian safety by ensuring clear communication between pedestrians and autonomous vehicles at intersections?

How can we improve pedestrian safety by ensuring clear communication between pedestrians and autonomous vehicles at intersections?

FCA Car.png
Our final design is a long, narrow screen that wraps around the top of the windshield and front windows of an AV. When the car stops at a crosswalk and senses a pedestrian there waiting to cross, the screen will illuminate with white walking symbols

Our final design is a long, narrow screen that wraps around the top of the windshield and front windows of an AV. When the car stops at a crosswalk and senses a pedestrian there waiting to cross, the screen will illuminate with white walking symbols. The pedestrian then understands that the car has seen them and will feel safe in crossing the street. Pictured is the medium-fidelity, proof of concept prototype constructed from laser cut wood. The rendering shows the intended final design that preserves the car's aesthetic and aerodynamic qualities and integrates into the body.

Our testing showed that displaying the walking person symbol in white most clearly conveyed the message, due to its ubiquity. Using words like "Go" or using green light were often misinterpreted as referring to the car's intended actions. In additio

Our testing showed that displaying the walking person symbol in white most clearly conveyed the message, due to its ubiquity. Using words like "Go" or using green light were often misinterpreted as referring to the car's intended actions. In addition, compared to words, symbols communicate more quickly and without needing knowledge of English.

We presented our findings at Fiat Chrysler to a group of executives, engineers, and designers, with an aim to increase dialogue and concern about the safety and experience of pedestrians and bikers in the design of autonomous vehicles.

We presented our findings at Fiat Chrysler to a group of executives, engineers, and designers, with an aim to increase dialogue and concern about the safety and experience of pedestrians and bikers in the design of autonomous vehicles.

“We need to be able to communicate in all directions, and we need to be able to show intention and have a conversation with the other players on the road.”

“We need to be able to communicate in all directions, and we need to be able to show intention and have a conversation with the other players on the road.”

- Carol Reiley, Roboticist

Crosstalk aims to start that conversation.