When it comes to semi-autonomous vehicles, regulators need to improve driver training, direct manufacturers to better record crashes, and fund more research into how drivers use the technology over long trips and in adverse weather, according to a new report by the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Human Kinetics.

Kinesiology professor Francesco Biondi studied 30 volunteers as they drove a 2022 Tesla Model 3 on Hwy. 401 to Chatham and back in both the manual and L2 semi-autonomous modes. Despite it being many of the volunteers’ first time behind the wheel of a Tesla, the drivers were tuning out while in semi-autonomous mode, glancing for dangerous periods of time at the vehicle’s touchscreen instead of focusing on the road.

Drivers were far more alert in the fully manual mode, Dr. Biondi said.

“We suspected this would be the case, but it was much worse than we anticipated,” he said.

Some participants, he noted, even started to doze off while in L2 mode.

Biondi’s study was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. While there have been previous studies using driving simulators, to Biondi’s knowledge, his study is the first time anyone in Canada has conducted research involving drivers of a semi-autonomous vehicle in real-life road conditions.

Like pilots who engage autopilot, drivers of semi-autonomous vehicles go from being “operators” to “supervisors,” Biondi said.

“Drivers are playing a more hands-off role in supervising the system functioning, which may result in impaired performance in resuming manual control of the vehicle whenever necessary.”

For the study, the drivers were outfitted with special headgear that tracked their eye movements, pupil dilation, and blink rates. They wore heart monitors and a device that sensed their hand-eye reaction time. A trio of cameras recorded the drivers’ head movements, as well as what was happening on the road in front and behind the vehicle. Biondi’s research assistant, Noor Jajo, was in the back seat to answer questions, give directions, and record data.

In the L2 or semi-autonomous mode, the vehicle maintains its positioning in its lane. It maintains a constant speed unless there’s a slower vehicle ahead, in which case it slows down to follow at a safe distance. Drivers are expected to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.

“Our study shows they aren’t doing this,” said Biondi. “These systems are supposed to be safer, but when you consider human systems, that is not necessarily the case.”

He said his study showed the technology is less reliable in construction zones where lane markings are less discernable. Drivers need to be more vigilant in those circumstances.

Biondi said more study is needed involving drivers on long trips and in adverse weather conditions, especially if semi-autonomous technology becomes more widely adopted by automakers and consumers.

“As L2 systems become more common in vehicles, more research is necessary to develop a better understanding of the implications that such transition has on driver behaviour and road safety.”

Read Biondi’s full research report here.

—Sarah Sacheli

As part of its commitment to challenging and dismantling systemic oppression, the University of Windsor invites nominations and self-nominations to the new UWindsor Anti-Racism Council.

The Anti-Racism Council will listen and learn from the experiences of racialized members of the UWindsor community in reviewing programs, pedagogical practices, policies, research, and other areas to identify concrete actions to redress racism and support anti-oppressive practices.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members are invited to nominate or self-nominate to the council, whose membership will reflect the diversity of racialized communities on campus and the intersectionality of identities and backgrounds that impact their experiences. The council will serve as a sounding board for anti-racism policy and practice and an advisory group to the offices of the Director of Anti-Racism Organizational Change and the Vice-President of People, Equity, and Inclusion.

Membership will prioritize the voices of racialized campus community members, and nominees should meet the following criteria:

• Knowledge and understanding of issues of racism and systemic oppression;
• Experience working on anti-racism issues;
• Institutional knowledge;
• Activism in the community on racial justice, anti-racism, and equity issues;
• Commitment and accountability to a collective process;
• Skills in listening, analyzing, and learning;
• Ability to work in a team through consensus decision-making;
• Availability and willingness to attend meetings at least once a month, and more frequently if required by the Anti-Racism Council.

Four students, seven non-administrative staff, seven faculty, one alumni representative, and one community representative will make up the council, which will be co-chaired by Marium Tolson-Murtty, director of anti-racism organizational change.

Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, Nov. 8.

To access the nomination form, or for more information, visit the Anti-Racism Council website.

DailyNews readers can win tickets to the Windsor International Film Festival, courtesy of the Office of the President. A celebration of the art of cinema, the festival will run Oct. 26 to Nov. 5.

Its centrepiece is The Peasants, the story of a young woman determined to forge her own path within the confines of a late 19th-century Polish village bound by adherence to colourful traditions and deep-rooted patriarchy.

A pair of ticket vouchers for any of the festival’s films will go to today’s winner, selected at random from all correct responses submitted by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25. To enter, just submit your answers to these three questions:

1. The Peasants is based on a novel by which Nobel laureate?
   a) Czeslaw Milosz
   b) Wladyslaw Reymont
   c) Henryk Sienkiewicz
   d) Isaac Bashevis Singer
    
2. Which MuchMusic veejay will be present for the closing night screening of the documentary 299 Queen Street West?
   a) Rick Campanelli
   b) Erica Ehm
   c) both of the above
   d) none of the above
    
3. Which drama about the challenges to lesbians in Thatcherite England will be the first showing at the Armouries this year?
   a) Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
   b) Kokomo City
   c) Fallen Leaves
   d) Blue Jean

Contest is open to all readers of the DailyNews. Send an e-mail with your responses to mona@uwindsor.ca. One entry per contestant, please.

The UWill Discover project team will launch the first edition of the UWill Discover Journal at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the Leddy Library Collaboratory.

The event promises a quiz competition about the UWill Discover project, selected presentations by award-winning students, and opportunities for people to learn about the 2024 edition of the UWill Discover Sustainable Futures events.

The journal features research conducted by the winners of the 2023 UWill Discover Conference and articles by special invitation. The UWill Discover Journal project is led by Tim Brunet, Pascal Calarco, and Outstanding Scholars Carol Adu-Bobie, Lauren Lopez, Deepashika Senaratne, and Lana Yacoub.

The journal publishes student works on scholar.uwindsor.ca which connects to Google Scholar and the OpenAIRE project, a socio-technical infrastructure for Open Scholarly Communication in Europe.

Sign up today to attend online or in person. To learn more about the UWill Discover team, visit the UWill Discover Journal and YouTube channel. 

Poet, author, and editor Vanessa Stauffer will give a talk titled “Imported from South Detroit” as part of the speaker series in the course “Windsor’s Literary Culture” on Thursday, Oct. 26.

Dr. Stauffer completed an MFA in poetry and a PhD in literature and creative writing at the University of Houston, where she held Cambor, Michener, and Krakow Poetry Seminar fellowships. Her poems have appeared in The Missouri Review, Poetry Magazine, The Walrus, and elsewhere. Born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, she lives in Windsor, Ontario, where she is managing editor at Biblioasis.

The reading series brings writers, publishers, booksellers, Windsor’s poet laureate and cultural storyteller into the classroom, giving students — as well as the university community at large — an opportunity to see local literature as something living and vital.

This talk will take place from 1 to 2:20 p.m. in room 53, Chrysler Hall South, and is open to all members of the University of Windsor community.

In today’s digitally driven world, electronic devices play an essential role in personal and professional lives, making it crucial to prioritize their security.

IT Services recommends following these activities to help you safeguard your electronic assets and mitigate cybersecurity threats.

Each habit provides protection, and combined, they are great defences against cyberthreats.

• Closing applications and browsers: At the end of your workday, close all applications and browser tabs to prevent potential vulnerabilities.
• Restart your computer regularly: At a minimum, weekly computer shutdowns and restarts help clear any potential security threats and improve system performance.
• Enable automatic operating systems: These updates promptly address security vulnerabilities and improve overall device performance.
• Use the GlobalProtect VPN: Utilize the University’s updated GlobalProtect VPN for secure connections.
• Maintain antivirus and firewall software: Stay up-to-date with antivirus and firewall software for comprehensive protection.
• Application updates: Install Microsoft Office from portal.office.com for regular updates and always use trusted sources like Company Portal, Microsoft Store, or Mac App Store for apps.
• Check for application updates: Ensure your applications, including web browsers, are set to check for updates automatically.
• Install Endpoint Protection software: Endpoint Protection software, like Cortex XDR and Windows Defender, acts as a shield against external viruses and malware. Both scan your device for malicious software, removing potential threats.

Guidance on computer care can be found on the Cybersecurity Computer Care webpage.

Registering or joining your University-owned or personal device in device administration protects the shared campus network and data. It is a collective measure to fortify the campus network against potential cyber threats, enhancing data protection and security.

When a computer or mobile phone is joined or registered in device administration, it safeguards the University’s data while offering near-seamless access to UWindsor systems for University employees. Device administration also deploys security fixes and patches directly to the device, enhancing its security posture.

By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity, the campus community can play a pivotal role in fortifying the University’s data against cybercriminals. These security measures, combined with the University’s robust firewalls, work together to safeguard the network and data from malicious attacks.

Led by IT Services, Cybersecurity Awareness Month underscores the importance of cybersecurity for the UWindsor community, empowering individuals to take control of their digital safety and share in the responsibility of protecting the University’s data. Explore additional resources at uwindsor.ca/cybersecurity.

Image courtesy of Michael P. Hall.

The Lancer football and women’s soccer team head to the post season this week. The football team will host their first playoff game since 2014 on Saturday, October 28th at Alumni Stadium against the Carleton Ravens. Kick-off is set for 4:00pm.

The blue and gold (6-2) dominated the visiting York Lions 69-0 this past Saturday and look to keep the win streak going against the Ravens (4-4).

Tickets for the game are available at goLancers.ca/tickets. If you can’t make it to the game, it will be streamed live at oua.tv.

The Lancer women’s soccer team also kicks of the post season this week when they travel to Waterloo to face the Laurier Golden Hawks on Wednesday at 6:00pm in the OUA quarter-finals.