Efficacy of augmented visual environments for reducing sickness in autonomous vehicles

Area of Science:

• Human-computer interaction
• Automotive engineering
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Autonomous vehicles (AVs) present a higher risk of motion sickness compared to human-operated vehicles.
• Effective motion sickness mitigation systems are crucial for AV adoption.
• Current research explores visual augmentation as a potential solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if augmenting autonomous vehicle interiors with additional visualizations can mitigate motion sickness.
• To compare the efficacy of regular interior views versus augmented views with motion cues.

Main Methods:

• Participants experienced motion simulations as backward-facing passengers in a simulated autonomous vehicle.
• Visual stimuli were delivered via a Head-Mounted Display, showing either a regular interior view or augmented views with motion cues (present or 500ms future).
• Motion sickness levels were assessed across different visual conditions.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in motion sickness was found between the regular view and augmented view conditions.
• Contrary to hypotheses, additional visual information did not further reduce motion sickness.
• The findings suggest that a regular interior view might already be near optimal for sickness reduction.

Conclusions:

• Augmenting autonomous vehicle interiors with additional motion visualizations does not appear to further reduce motion sickness beyond a standard view.
• A ceiling effect may be present, where providing a regular view sufficiently limits motion sickness.
• Future research should explore alternative or complementary strategies for motion sickness mitigation in autonomous vehicles.