Deployment of Preemption Based Motion Sickness Prevention Technology on a Testbed Vehicle in MCity

The objective of this project is to deploy a novel motion sickness prevention technology (PREACT) on a custom-designed vehicle testbed in MCity, and experimentally validate its efficacy under realistic driving conditions with human subjects. The PREACT technology employs prediction algorithms to anticipate impending inertial events associated with driving and makes preemptive interventions (e.g. via tip/tilt seat, tightening seat-belt, and haptic stimuli) before the inertial events actually happen, thereby averting motion sickness. The project team's previous CCAT grant (Phase I) has enabled the development of all the key components of the PREACT technology – the vehicle testbed comprising various mechatronic modules (active tip/tilt seat and active passenger stimuli); extensive instrumentation to measure the states of the vehicle and the passenger; the prediction algorithms necessary to preemptively trigger the mechatronic modules; an MCity path that emulates city and highway driving; and, an IRB approved human subject testing protocol. The project team are now submitting this new proposal (Phase II) with the objective of bringing together and integrating all these previously developed PREACT components into an operational technology. By mitigating motion sickness and enhancing comfort and productivity for passengers, the PREACT technology will help overcome a major practical impediment in the adoption of Autonomous Vehicles by the society. This, in turn, will usher in the numerous benefits of AVs – fewer road accidents and fatalities, reduced traffic congestion, lower energy consumption and environmental footprint, reclaimed productivity for passengers, and equitable access to transportation.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $230000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747105

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, Michigan  United States  48109
• Project Managers:

  Bezzina, Debra

  Tucker-Thomas, Dawn

• Performing Organizations:

  Center for Connected and Automated Transportation

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109
• Principal Investigators:

  Awtar, Shorya

  Martin, Bernard

• Start Date: 20220401
• Expected Completion Date: 20230331
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
• Subprogram: Research

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Deployment; Motion sickness; Passenger comfort; Test beds
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01842624
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Connected and Automated Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747105
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Apr 15 2022 10:55AM