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Updated: Nov 27, 2025
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
Effects of a seat-integrated mobilization system during passive driver fatigue
Lisa Schneider1, Katrin Frings2, Siegfried Rothe3
1Mercedes-Benz AG, Future Technologies, HPC H515, Leibnizstr. 2, D-71032, Böblingen, Germany; TU Dortmund University, Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Otto-Hahn-Str. 3, D-44227, Dortmund, Germany.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a seat-integrated mobilization system for maintaining vigilance under monotonous driving situations.
Method:
For this purpose, vigilance indicators were compared intra-individually in a test condition with mobilization (seat-integrated stimulation) and a placebo condition under standardized conditions in a real driving study (N = 31). During a monotonous two-hour ride, physiological (brain activity by the EEG alpha spindle rate), performance-based (reaction times) and subjective indicators were recorded.
Results:
The necessary precondition for the paradigm of inducing fatigue through monotony was confirmed by a significant increase in the EEG alpha spindle rate and the subjective vigilance indices. The mobilization system had a significant impact on the most fatigue-sensitive parameter of the alpha spindle rate, whereas the other parameters of vigilance did not reflect a significant effect of mobilization.
Conclusion:
The Mobilization Seat is an effective measure to prevent drivers' fatigue during monotonous situations.
