Maria Alonso Raposo
Scientific / Technical Project Officer at European Commission, Joint Research Centre
I have such good memories of my beginnings in driver behaviour research 15 years ago, when I joined the Human Factors group of Fundación Cidaut. Using the Wizard of Oz technique and some quite basic sensors, we evaluated the prototype of a Lane Change Assist system along the roads of Barcelona. Many other tests followed this first one, both in real traffic conditions and in a driving simulator.
I have participated in European projects for the development of first versions of systems such as the Adaptive Cruise Control, the large scale assessment of portable navigation systems or the research of the effects of distraction on driving. I have also worked with companies such as Seat to validate their infotainment systems.
At present I work as Sientific / Technical Project Officer at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commision, where I am in charge of the analysis of autonomous driving impacts (the so called driverless vehicles, self-driving vehicles or autonomous vehicles). The objective: guide the political and legislative changes that will drive the evolution of these technologies in the coming years. In these efforts, as always, I try to ensure that the user perspective is never forgotten!