面向弱势群体的自主穿梭机运营：经验教训
Autonomous Shuttle Operation for Vulnerable Populations: Lessons and Experiences
摘要：
驾驶员的日益短缺对弱势群体构成了重大威胁，特别是老年人和残疾人，他们严重依赖公共交通来获得医疗服务和社会活动。自动驾驶汽车（AV）作为一种有前途的替代方案出现，为这些群体提供了可访问性和独立性的潜在改进。然而，目前的设计和研究往往忽视了这些人群的独特需求和经验，导致潜在的无障碍障碍。本文介绍了一项针对老年人和残疾人的自动穿梭机测试的详细案例研究，该测试在COVID-19大流行的早期阶段进行。这项服务持续了13周，在城市环境中为大约1 500名乘客提供服务，旨在便利获得基本服务。根据安全操作员的经验和直接观察，我们确定了脆弱乘客面临的关键用户体验和安全挑战。根据我们的研究结果，我们提出了有针对性的举措，以提高老年人和残疾人的AV技术的安全性，可访问性和用户教育。这些措施包括增加教育机会，使这些群体熟悉AV技术，设计注重多样性和包容性的AV，并改善AV操作员的培训计划，以满足弱势群体的独特需求。通过这些举措，我们的目标是弥合AV无障碍方面的差距，并确保这些技术惠及社会所有成员。
英文摘要：
The increasing shortage of drivers poses a significant threat to vulnerable populations, particularly seniors and disabled individuals who heavily depend on public transportation for accessing healthcare services and social events. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) emerge as a promising alternative, offering potential improvements in accessibility and independence for these groups. However, current designs and studies often overlook the unique needs and experiences of these populations, leading to potential accessibility barriers. This paper presents a detailed case study of an autonomous shuttle test specifically tailored for seniors and disabled individuals, conducted during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The service, which lasted 13 weeks, catered to approximately 1500 passengers in an urban setting, aiming to facilitate access to essential services. Drawing from the safety operator's experiences and direct observations, we identify critical user experience and safety challenges faced by vulnerable passengers. Based on our findings, we propose targeted initiatives to enhance the safety, accessibility, and user education of AV technology for seniors and disabled individuals. These include increasing educational opportunities to familiarize these groups with AV technology, designing AVs with a focus on diversity and inclusion, and improving training programs for AV operators to address the unique needs of vulnerable populations. Through these initiatives, we aim to bridge the gap in AV accessibility and ensure that these technologies benefit all members of society.
机构、总结、中文摘要均由AI分析而来，可能存在错误，请以论文正文为准。
