Collisions involving haul-trucks are a high risk at surface coal mines. Visibility restrictions inherent in the design of haul-trucks may lead to drivers being unaware of the position and movement of other vehicles. Manufacturers and after-market suppliers have responded to this challenge by developing a range of technologies which provide information to haul-truck drivers to assist the driver predict and avoid potential collisions. The design of the visual and auditory interfaces which sit between these technologies and the human operator is crucial to ensuring their effectiveness. ACARP project C24028 employed a 5DT haul truck simulator located within the Centre for Sensorimotor Performance, UQ School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences in collaboration with AProf Guy Wallis, to evaluate interfaces designed to convey proximity advisory information to haul-truck drivers as a means of reducing the probability of collisions. The project will provided a research paradigm suitable for extension to examine related questions such as the impact of other factors such as false alarm rate and fatigue on the performance of proximity advisory systems.
(ergonomics.uq.edu.au/Pdinterface)