Mitigating motion sickness in automated vehicles with vibration cue system

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Automotive Engineering
• Human Factors Psychology

Background:

• Motion sickness is a significant challenge in road transport, impacting passenger comfort and user experience, particularly in semi- and fully-automated vehicles.
• Non-driving tasks in automated vehicles exacerbate motion sickness, necessitating effective mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a user-friendly vibration cue system for motion sickness mitigation in automated vehicles.
• To optimize vibration cueing timing and patterns using motion anticipation theory.
• To assess the system's effectiveness in reducing motion sickness and promoting motion anticipation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a cushion-based prototype vibration cue system integrated with automated driving algorithms.
• Optimization of cueing strategy based on motion anticipation principles.
• Conducting driving simulator experiments with 20 participants evaluating the system under different conditions.

Main Results:

• Participants could comprehend the vibration cues and generate motion anticipation.
• A significant reduction in participants' motion sickness severity was observed.
• The system demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing user experience and ride comfort.

Conclusions:

• The proposed vibration cue system is an effective solution for mitigating motion sickness in automated vehicles.
• The system's integration with motion planning and motion anticipation theory provides a foundation for practical applications.
• Further system development is recommended for real-world implementation to improve passenger well-being.