A haptic interface designed for a self-driving car. Stewart II enables a haptic dialogue between car and driver, providing the driver with high-level control over the autonomous vehicle. The prototype is fully interactive and is being used for user research and testing in a simulator study. The final objective is to design a haptic language that enables intuitive communication between man and machine for a satisfying driving experience.

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is located in a highly industrialized region, known as ‘Brainport’. This region is internationally recognized as a top technology area with a special focus on the integration of design and technology. When TU/e started discussions with the creative industries in 2000, they expressed the wish for a new type of academic engineer. These engineers should combine insights into different fields of knowledge, as integrators of visions and ‘problemfinders’. In essence they should be the designers of Intelligent systems, products and related services in a societal context, addressing aspects such as adaptive behavior, context awareness and highly dynamic interaction. These systems meet the needs of today’s users or, even better, offer new, breakthrough possibilities leading to societal transformations. For these reasons the new Department of Industrial Design (ID), the ninth at TU/e, chose a specific new field within industrial design matching the development, expertise and interests of the surrounding and international industries.