About us

We are a group of researchers who aim at gaining a better insight into human behaviour and its underlying mechanisms in a world which becomes increasingly complex. We engage in multiple areas of human factors, such as highly automated driving, the use of collaborative robotic systems, the automation of ships, as well as new software solutions. We provide fundamental as well as more applied findings from a psychological and cognitive science perspective, with a focus on mental workload, adaptability, acceptance, and cognitive functions as well as influencing factors. Our findings create a basis for a human-centred development of new technologies and the development of measures to support the users in interacting with new systems. Our work is funded by different national and international research grants as well as various business partners.

Blog

WHAT'S NEW

04.09.2024

Mensch und Computer 2024 in Karlsruhe

Our research group participated at Mensch und Computer 2024 in Karlsruhe, where PhD candidate Verena Staab presented her research on "Automation and its Effects on Mental Workload in Industrial Sectors". Her work offers fresh insights, particularly within the maritime industry. ⚓ 🌊

📚 Check out her paper here: https://lnkd.in/gKDcgRwg

It was fantastic to connect with both familiar and new faces from industry and research. Looking forward to continuing these valuable discussions and collaborations! 🤝

29.08.2024

DGPS Summer School for Human Factors

This week, our PhD candidate Eva Gößwein and research assistant Maike Ramrath attended the 6th DGPS Summer School for Human Factors. The two of them presented their current research, Eva on executive functions and the adaption to new technologies, and Maike on remote surveillance. It was a great chance to connect with other PhD students and get feedback from experienced researchers!

Eva and Maike had a great time in Braunschweig and thank the DGPs-Fachgruppe Ingenieurpsychologie and especially the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. for the great organization (and the group picture)!

01.07.2024

Collecting data in our ship simulator

Over the past few months, we've been busy collecting data in our ship simulator! The latest developments in inland navigation automation show how important it is to test the new systems early on to make sure they're user-friendly.

Our study aimed to assess situation awareness when monitoring autonomous systems to intervene in potentially dangerous situations. We also explored whether surveillance causes mental under- or overload and how vigilance, a form of sustained attention, influences this.

This research will provide valuable insights into how jobs in shipping and other sectors can evolve over time. We’re currently analyzing the eye-tracking data and look forward to sharing the results with you soon. Stay tuned!