Passenger experience on an automated shuttle service: a survey study on a real test ride in Italy

In recent years, debate on the widespread adoption of driverless autonomous vehicles has grown, thanks to technological advancements that have led to increasingly efficient prototypes. In this regard, driverless transit is a reality for railway fixed guideway systems, but only a few steps have been taken to implement automated road transit, i.e., buses. Although tests have been conducted over the past decade, most of them indicate that structured knowledge regarding user acceptance of this type of system is lacking. In particular, in Italy, some pilot projects have been carried out, but they have never resulted in surveys that characterize the acceptance of the system by the population, analyzing its distinctive features compared to other international practices. Recently, brain-computer interfaces have become widely used to control machines with electroencephalogram (EEG) signals due to advancements in low-cost technology. These interfaces are beneficial for developing biofeedback systems by exploiting the acquired signal. This paper presents the results of a survey conducted during a real test experience of an automated shuttle in Bari, Italy. The aim is to investigate the acceptance of the system and analyze its relationship with the population’s socio-demographic characteristics and current mobility habits. In addition, participants’ mental state regarding the experience of exploiting BCIs was analyzed with focus, relaxation, and stress level metrics, while emotion polarity was computed with EEG connectivity graphs metrics. Results provide first insights into the willingness to use the automated shuttle service and pave the way for more in-depth investigations.