RP 1224 - Driver Communications Interface: Introduction: Notes

Members of the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) have expressed a desire for the Council to:

• Define a HMI that encompasses ergonomic and functional requirements from the driver perspective. (This includes location of the HMI device; however, it does not necessarily define the placement or mounting techniques of the electronic control units or antennas if they are separate from the HMI.)
• Establish a common standard of interfacing HMI devices on commercial vehicles in order to accommodate multiple make and model fleets.
• Establish usability and accessibility functions that help prevent unauthorized use of the HMI.

This RP constitutes TMC's response to these requests. This document also takes a position on when these communications should be available to the driver, how/when they attempt to get the driver's attention (or distract him for the task of safely operating the vehicle), and how/when the driver may use them.