18th International ACM Conference on Automative User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications (AutoUI'26) - Gothenburg, Sweden, Sep 20-23, 2026.
Welcome to the Anthropomorphic and Intelligent Assistive Systems for Automated Vehicles (AnthroAssist) Workshop!
AnthroAssist explores anthropomorphic and intelligent assistive systems for automated vehicles, bringing together researchers from HCI, HRI, automotive UX, AI, and transportation to discuss design, evaluation, trust, and future mobility experiences.
This half-day workshop brings together researchers and practitioners to develop practical design guidance and shape a future research agenda for anthropomorphic and intelligent assistive systems in automated vehicles.
The workshop will take place at AutoUI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden on September 20 (Check the program here, AnthroAssist is W7)
Key questions to be explored include:
What are the benefits and drawbacks of anthropomorphism in vehicle assistive systems? Are there risks of over-trust or driver distraction?
What is the optimal form and persona for an in-car intelligent agent? Should it have a visual embodiment (on a display or as a physical robot) or would voice-only be preferable in an automotive context?
How should an anthropomorphic vehicle assistant communicate and assist the user? How can the assistant convey awareness of the driving context and the vehicle's intentions (for example, explaining autonomous decisions)?
How do these intelligent assistants impact driver behavior and safety? In what ways do these assistants influence driver attention, workload, and ability to take over control when needed?
What design guidelines and ethical considerations emerge?
How can we evaluate and measure success for anthropomorphic in-car systems? What metrics (e.g., trust scales, reaction time, driving performance, user satisfaction) and study methodologies (simulator studies, field trials) are suitable for this domain?
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
Anthropomorphic interfaces and embodied agents for automated vehicles
In-vehicle social robots, conversational agents, and intelligent copilots/companions
External human–machine interfaces (eHMIs) and anthropomorphic vehicle signals for communication with pedestrians and other road users
Human factors, trust, acceptance, usability, and user experience in assistive systems for automated driving
Driver/passenger/operator state monitoring and assessment of distraction, stress, mind-wandering, and cognitive workload in human–vehicle interaction
Multimodal interaction design for intelligent assistive systems, including speech, gaze, gestures, LED signals, ambient lighting, touch, and affect-aware interaction
Explainable and transparent communication in anthropomorphic intelligent vehicle assistance systems
Social signaling, negotiation, and behavioral influence of anthropomorphic assistive systems on road-user decision-making
Personalization and context-aware behavior in assistive vehicle systems
Integration of anthropomorphic assistive systems with vehicle autonomy levels, shared control, and connected transport technologies (C-ITS)
Robotics and automation for improving road safety, accessibility, and mobility inclusion
Design methods, participatory design, co-creation, and evaluation of automated vehicle interfaces (including simulator and field studies)
Cross-cultural, ethical, legal, regulatory, and societal implications of anthropomorphic vehicle systems
Future applications of socially interactive and intelligent systems in sustainable mobility
