Ranking Crossing Scenario Complexity for eHMIs Testing: A Virtual Reality Study

External human–machine interfaces (eHMIs) have the potential to benefit AV–pedestrian interactions. The majority of studies investigating eHMIs used relatively simple traffic environments, i.e., a single pedestrian crossing in front eHMI on one-lane straight road. While this approach has proved be efficient providing an initial understanding how pedestrians respond eHMIs, it over-simplifies interactions which will substantially more complex real-life circumstances. A process is illustrated small-scale study (N = 10) rank different scenarios by level complexity. Traffic were first developed for varying density, visual complexity road scene, geometry, weather and visibility conditions, presence distractions. These factors been previously shown increase difficulty riskiness task. then tested motion-based, virtual reality environment. Pedestrians’ perceived workload objective behaviour measured as indirect indicators scenario. Sense simulator sickness also recorded measure ecological validity results indicated that some taxing than others, such those with geometries where approached from multiple directions. Further, scores showed environments experienced found realistic. This paper concludes proposing “complex” environment test under challenging