Co-hosted by the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and the Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering - Graduate Seminar

PRESENTATION: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly accelerating the development of autonomous vehicles (AVs). Intelligent AVs promise to reduce driver workload, improve safety, and enable accessibility. However, before these expected benefits can be fully realized, several research and development challenges must be overcome that include identifying ways to passively assess driver states, developing approaches for shifting drivers’ perspectives on interactions with AVs, and creating designs AVs that meet the needs of different user populations. In this seminar, Dr. Pitts will share insights from a collection of research projects in transportation aimed at 1) (techniques) developing driver state monitoring systems, 2) (teaming) evaluating collaboration with semi-autonomous vehicles, and 3) (tools) developing prototypes that support accessible transportation. Findings from this research program contribute to the broader discussion on how to design effective human-automation/AI systems and interfaces for next-generation intelligent transportation.

PRESENTER: Dr. Brandon Pitts is the Elliott Sigal Rising Star Associate Professor in the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. His research areas include human factors engineering, human-automation/AI interaction, cyber-human-physical systems, adaptive interface design, and gerontechnology in complex transportation and work environments, i.e., driving and aviation. Dr. Pitts’ research has been funded by several agencies and industry sponsors, such as NSF, DOT, FAA, NIDILRR, Ford Motor Company and ZF Automotive Group. Dr. Pitts has received several awards and recognitions, including Invited Participant of the 3rd U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium (2025), 2023 Stephanie Binder Young Professional Award (given by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society), 2023 NSF CAREER award, and 1st place in the 2022 U.S. DOT Inclusive Design Challenge (IDC) for his team’s EASI RIDER autonomous vehicle (AV) innovation. Dr. Pitts received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan (UM) in 2016.