Designing Drone Interfaces to Assist Pedestrians Crossing Non-Signalised Roads

TL;DR

This study designs and evaluates drone interfaces that assist pedestrians in crossing dangerous non-signalised roads, demonstrating improved safety and reduced mental workload through VR testing of projection and screen-based cues.

Contribution

It introduces novel drone interface designs for pedestrian safety at non-signalised crossings, validated through VR experiments showing effectiveness over baseline systems.

Findings

Drone-assisted systems improve pedestrian safety experiences.

Projections outperform screens in safety and usability.

System reduces mental workload during crossing.

Abstract

Recent research highlights the potential of drones to enhance pedestrian experiences, such as aiding navigation and supporting street-level activities. This paper explores the design of drone interfaces to assist pedestrians crossing dangerous roads without designated crosswalks or traffic lights, leveraging drones' ability to monitor and analyse real-time traffic data. Inspired by existing traffic signal systems, the interface communicates safety information through permissive alerts, prohibitive warnings, directional warnings, and collision emergency warnings. These safety cues were integrated into drone interfaces using in-situ projections and drone-equipped screens through an iterative design process. A mixed-methods, within-subjects VR evaluation (n=18) revealed that drone-assisted systems significantly improved pedestrian safety experiences and reduced mental workload compared to a baseline without any crossing aid, with projections outperforming screens. The findings suggest the potential for drone interfaces to be integrated into connected traffic systems. We also offer design recommendations for developing drone interfaces that support safe pedestrian crossings.