Bobbie Seppelt

Papers

Total Citations

304

H-Index

About

Bobbie Seppelt is a leading researcher in human-automation interaction, with a primary focus on driver behavior and vehicle automation. Her work is central to understanding how humans interact with increasingly autonomous systems, particularly in the context of advanced driver-assistance technologies. Seppelt’s major contributions stem from her leadership in the MIT Advanced Vehicle Technology Study (AVT) and the MIT Autonomous Vehicle Technology Study, where she spearheaded large-scale naturalistic driving studies. These landmark projects, which have garnered over 300 combined citations, use deep learning and real-world data to analyze driver behavior during automation use. Her research reveals that the full driving task remains too complex to be fully formalized by current robotics or learning-based approaches, challenging assumptions about the feasibility of unconstrained vehicle autonomy. By emphasizing the critical role of human factors, Seppelt’s work has shaped safety guidelines and design principles for semi-autonomous vehicles. Her findings highlight the persistent need for human oversight, making her a pivotal voice in debates about the future of transportation and the safe deployment of AI-driven systems.