Towards Inclusive AV Perception: Understanding Crossing Behaviour and Movement Signatures of Mobility-Impaired Pedestrians

This EPSRC-funded PhD studentship investigates crossing behaviour and movement signatures of mobility-impaired pedestrians in the context of automated vehicle (AV) perception systems. The project addresses a critical research gap in AV development by examining how people with mobility impairments present different movement patterns and intention signalling compared to non-disabled pedestrians. The research will build on existing pedestrian behaviour studies and extend them to include wheelchair and crutch users, analyzing their behaviour and attention allocation across various traffic scenarios. The student will conduct literature reviews, analyze existing datasets from the SHAPE-IT project, and conduct new studies using methods such as HIKER pedestrian simulator experiments, questionnaires, interviews, or field observations. The project aims to develop more inclusive AV intent recognition systems that account for the full spectrum of pedestrian behaviours, ensuring future transport technologies are designed with all pedestrian groups in mind. The work will leverage the Virtuocity facilities and aligns with the Institute for Transport Studies' research strategy in promoting safety and traffic efficiency.