Michael Ray Epke

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About

Michael Ray Epke is a leading researcher in the emerging field of human-automation interaction, with a specific focus on the critical interface between pedestrians and automated vehicles (AVs). His work addresses a fundamental challenge in AV deployment: the loss of implicit, non-verbal communication that occurs when human drivers are removed from vehicles. Epke’s most-cited study, “I See Your Gesture: A VR-Based Study of Bidirectional Communication between Pedestrians and Automated Vehicles” (2021, 26 citations), pioneered the investigation of explicit hand gestures and receptive external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs) to restore this lost dialogue. By demonstrating how pedestrians can effectively signal their intentions to AVs through deliberate body language, and how AVs can acknowledge these signals via eHMIs, Epke has laid crucial groundwork for safer, more intuitive road interactions. His research bridges cognitive psychology, human factors engineering, and vehicle design, offering practical solutions for a future where humans and machines must communicate seamlessly. Epke’s contributions are particularly notable for their real-world applicability, informing both vehicle manufacturers and urban planners about the design of trust-building, bidirectional communication systems that could prevent accidents and improve pedestrian confidence in autonomous technology.