Interaction Between Unmanned Systems and Humans: An Example of a Smart Passenger Access Gate for Autonomous Urban Passenger Ferries

This study explores the development and evaluation of a Smart Passenger Access Gate (SPAG) aimed at enhancing passenger experiences with an autonomous urban passenger ferry service. The need for timely and clear information was identified following observations of passenger frustrations due to late recognition of the ferry's operational state. The SPAG, equipped with semi-transparent acrylic doors and a 6x9 LED matrix, displays the ferry's status in various colours and patterns, including arrival times, seat availability, and service disruptions. This innovation was tested during a three-week trial of an autonomous passenger ferry in the summer of 2022. We recruited 22 participants to evaluate the SPAG prototype. Initial findings suggest that the SPAG significantly improves passengers' ability to make informed decisions from a distance, offering a clear advantage over conventional access gates. Feedback highlighted the system's usability and suggested improved visibility in bright conditions. This paper presents the concept and potential of the SPAG prototype to improve the passenger journey by providing essential information about the ferry's status.