Research on the Design and Evaluation Method of a Tractor Intelligent Control Interface

Abstract

With the development of technology, future tractors will become more intelligent. More complex interfaces and several control components tend to cause drivers’ cognitive load to be easily overloaded. Therefore, an evaluation method of the control interface should be proposed from the cognitive load perspective. To realise this concept, first, the influence of the design elements of the interface on behaviour time was investigated and a behaviour time model was established. Consequently, the experimental data could be well fitted by the model (R² > 0.9), and the behaviour time of the operating interfaces could be effectively predicted. Second, an evaluation index of the interface was proposed based on behaviour time, which could evaluate the interface’s design level. Finally, the validity of the evaluation method was verified. The results provide theoretical guidance for human–machine interfaces for tractors from the perspective of drivers’ cognitive load.

Acknowledgements

The authors are particularly grateful to all participants in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Special funds for high-level teachers in Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, with support from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, under Grant BIFTXJ202212.

Notes on contributors

Yeqing Pei

Yeqing Pei is an instructor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, China. Her research interests include human–machine interaction, data mining and user-interface design.

Zhenghe Song

Zhenghe Song is a full-time professor at the College of Engineering in China Agricultural University. His research focuses on human–machine interaction and fluid driving and control.

Xiaoping Jin

Xiaoping Jin is an associate professor at the College of Engineering in China Agricultural University. Her research interests include human–machine interaction and cognitive load.