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Postgraduate DiplomaDesign, HMI & Product Applications open

Diploma in Interfaces for Levels 2–4: States, Alerts and Modalities

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in interfaces for Levels 2–4: states, alerts and modalities: 8 modules covering automation levels and interfaces, system states, alerts and warnings, communication modalities, Level 4 and passenger interfaces, design and prototyping, and validation and regulations, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration800 hours · 6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Relate each automation level to its interface requirements.

02

Model the states and transitions of an automated system.

03

Design effective alert hierarchies and escalations.

04

Select visual, auditory and haptic modalities according to context.

05

Conceive interfaces for passengers and pedestrians in Level 4 vehicles.

06

Prototype and specify automation interfaces.

07

Validate interfaces against the applicable UN ECE regulations.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Automation HMI designers
  • Human factors engineers
  • ADAS systems engineers
  • Autonomous mobility UX researchers
  • HMI specification engineers
  • eHMI specialists
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the automotive sector
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • SAE J3016 (taxonomy of driving automation levels)
  • UN ECE Regulation No. 157 (automated lane keeping systems)
  • UN ECE Regulation No. 171 (driver control assistance systems)
  • ISO/TR 16352:2005 (warning systems: state of the art)
  • ISO/TS 16951:2004 (message prioritisation)
  • ISO 15005:2017 (dialogue management)
  • ISO 21448:2022 (SOTIF)
  • Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1426 (automated driving systems)
  • ProtoPie
  • Figma
  • SCANeR studio
  • Kanzi
  • CARLA
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1SAE J3016 taxonomy of Levels 0 to 5
  2. 1.2HMI implications at each level
  3. 1.3Level 2: continuous supervision
  4. 1.4Level 3: fallback-ready user
  5. 1.5Level 4: restricted domain without a driver
  6. 1.6Mode confusion and its risks
  7. 1.7System naming and expectations
  8. 1.8Commercial system cases
  9. 1.9Design challenges by level
  10. 1.10Workshop: HMI requirements matrix by level
  1. 2.1Automation state machine
  2. 2.2Available, active, standby and fault
  3. 2.3State and mode indication
  4. 2.4Permitted transitions between states
  5. 2.5Conditions for leaving the operational design domain
  6. 2.6Degraded states and partial failures
  7. 2.7State persistence and visibility
  8. 2.8State iconography
  9. 2.9Verifying state machines
  10. 2.10Practical: state diagram of a Level 3 system
  1. 3.1Alert hierarchy: informative, caution and warning
  2. 3.2Perceived urgency of alerts
  3. 3.3Time-based alert escalation
  4. 3.4Takeover alerts
  5. 3.5Alert fatigue and suppression
  6. 3.6Conflicting alerts
  7. 3.7Design according to ISO/TR 16352
  8. 3.8Message prioritisation ISO/TS 16951
  9. 3.9Evaluating effectiveness
  10. 3.10Lab: designing the escalation of a takeover alert
  1. 4.1Visual channel: cluster, HUD and displays
  2. 4.2Auditory channel: tones and voice
  3. 4.3Haptic channel: steering wheel, seat and pedals
  4. 4.4Ambient lighting as an indicator
  5. 4.5Multimodal combination of signals
  6. 4.6Redundancy and consistency across channels
  7. 4.7Selecting the modality by context
  8. 4.8Accessibility for sensory impairments
  9. 4.9Comparative evaluation of modalities
  10. 4.10Case study: multimodal alert for leaving the domain
  1. 5.1Driverless interaction
  2. 5.2Passenger information about the route
  3. 5.3Communicating manoeuvre intentions
  4. 5.4Emergency and remote assistance interfaces
  5. 5.5External eHMI for pedestrians
  6. 5.6Teleoperation and remote supervision
  7. 5.7Universal accessibility for passengers
  8. 5.8Trust in driverless vehicles
  9. 5.9Robotaxi and shuttle services
  10. 5.10Workshop: interface concept for an autonomous shuttle
  1. 6.1User-centred design process
  2. 6.2Information architecture of automation
  3. 6.3Visual and sound prototypes
  4. 6.4Integration into a simulator
  5. 6.5In-vehicle prototypes with Wizard of Oz
  6. 6.6Iterative testing with users
  7. 6.7HMI specifications
  8. 6.8Managing variants by market
  9. 6.9Documentation for development
  10. 6.10Practical: HMI specification of a Level 2 system
  1. 7.1HMI requirements of UN ECE Regulation No. 157
  2. 7.2Requirements of UN ECE Regulation No. 171
  3. 7.3Euro NCAP driving assistance protocols
  4. 7.4Validation with representative users
  5. 7.5Mode awareness metrics
  6. 7.6Functional safety and SOTIF
  7. 7.7Automation data recording
  8. 7.8Ethics and liability
  9. 7.9Regulatory trends in automation
  10. 7.10Case study: alert validation plan
  1. 8.1Selecting the level and use case
  2. 8.2State machine
  3. 8.3Alert strategy
  4. 8.4Selecting modalities
  5. 8.5Interface prototype
  6. 8.6User evaluation
  7. 8.7Compliance matrix
  8. 8.8State comprehension tests
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ProtoPie, Figma, SCANeR studio, Kanzi and CARLA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for designing automation state machines, testing multimodal alerts in a simulator, and interface concepts for driverless vehicles. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integration project.

Standards covered: SAE J3016 (taxonomy of driving automation levels); UN ECE Regulation No. 157 (automated lane keeping systems); UN ECE Regulation No. 171 (driver control assistance systems); ISO/TR 16352:2005 (warning systems: state of the art); ISO/TS 16951:2004 (message prioritisation); ISO 15005:2017 (dialogue management); ISO 21448:2022 (SOTIF); Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1426 (automated driving systems).

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of SAE J3016 and UN ECE Regulations No. 157 and 171 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:ProtoPie, Figma, SCANeR studio, Kanzi and CARLA, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete automation interface for a chosen level and use case, covering state machine, alert strategy, modalities and user evaluation, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Select level and use case
Choose the automation level and use case for the interface.
Model the state machine
Define the system states and permitted transitions.
Design alerts and modalities
Set the alert strategy and select visual, auditory and haptic modalities.
Prototype and evaluate
Build the interface prototype and evaluate it with users.
Final project
Complete the compliance matrix and state comprehension tests, and present the report to your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Automation HMI designerHuman factors engineerADAS systems engineerAutonomous mobility UX researcherHMI specification engineereHMI specialist
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with ProtoPie, Figma, SCANeR studio, Kanzi and CARLA, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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