Research Title: Development of Adaptive Human-Machine Interface Technology to Support Passenger Trust in Urban Air Mobility

Sponsor

• NRF (National Research Foundation of Korea) 

Participating Institutions

• Gyeongsang National University, Yonsei University

Research Period

• Total Period: 2023. 06. 01 - 2026. 05. 31

• Participation Period: 2024. 06. 01 - 2026. 05. 31

Role

• Practical Manager (Contribution: 70%)     * PI: Prof. Youngwoo Kim

• Conducted during my Ph.D. program at Yonsei University 

Keywords

• Urban Air Mobility, Trust in Automation

Research Goal

• The goal of this research is to develop interfaces that enhance passenger trust in pilotless autonomous aerial mobility environments. In particular, the study aims to examine when and how information should be provided to passengers in order to maximize the effectiveness of trust-enhancing interfaces. 

Research Introduction

 This research aims to develop interfaces that enhance passenger trust in pilotless autonomous aerial mobility environments.

Previous studies on trust-enhancing interfaces, particularly information delivery strategies, have largely focused on Autonomous Vehicles.

However, little work has been done in future mobility contexts such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM), where public acceptance may be lower than in ground-based autonomous mobility contexts. To address this gap, we designed experimental scenarios that include trust-threatening events, such as sudden gusts of wind, fog, and potential bird-strike risks. Unity-based virtual reality simulations allow participants to experience these events and evaluate different interface strategies in real time.

The goal is to examine how passengers’ trust levels change dynamically during such events and to assess how the proposed interface designs support trust recovery and resilience. Findings from this study will provide insights for designing passenger-centered interfaces that promote the safe and acceptable adoption of autonomous aerial mobility.

Research Achievements

• Journal

  • Jongwoo Park, Siyoung Kim, & Young Woo Kim. (2026). Explanatory HMI in Urban Air Mobility: Phase-wise Patterns of Passenger Information-Checking Behavior. (WIP)

  • Jongwoo Park, Siyoung Kim, & Young Woo Kim. (2026). Influence of Explanation Timing and Content on Passenger Trust and Risk Perception in Autonomous UAM. (Under Review) 

• Conference

  • Jongwoo Park, Siyoung Kim, & Young Woo Kim. (2025). The Effects of eVTOL Maneuver Explanation Strategies on Passenger Trust in Urban Air Mobility. 2026 Annual Spring Conference Ergonomics Society of Korea, 000-000. (Busan, Korea) - Oral [PDF] 

  • Jongwoo Park, Siyoung Kim, & Young Woo Kim. (2025). A Study on the Effects of Flight Information Provision Timing and Type on Passenger Trust in Urban Air Mobility. 2025 Annual Fall Conference Ergonomics Society of Korea, 000-000. (Jeju, Korea) - Poster [PDF] 

  • Park, J., Kim, S., & Kim, Y. W. (2025, September). When and How to Explain: Designing Human-Machine Interfaces for Pilotless Urban Air Mobility. In Adjunct Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications (pp. 356-358). (Brisbane, Australia) - Video Session [PDF] 

  • Jongwoo Park, Siyoung Kim, & Young Woo Kim. (2025). Effects of Information Timing and Type on Passenger Trust in Urban Air Mobility(UAM): A VR-Based Experimental Design. 2025 Annual Spring Conference Ergonomics Society of Korea, 112-113. (Gumi-si, Korea) - Poster [PDF]