A Customizable Human/Vehicle Interface for Enhanced Operator Performance

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Jensen ◽  
John Wagner ◽  
Kim Alexander ◽  
Philip Pidgeon
Keyword(s):  
Haptic Feedback ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
Instrument Panel ◽  
The Road ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Feedback Channels

The emergence of cost effective electronics and actuators within the transportation industry allows the presentation of increased driver feedback for greater situational awareness. The operator feedback channels can be broadly divided into visual, audio, and haptic. To date, the automotive community has primarily relied on instrument panel lamps and buzzer/chime sounds to notify the driver of important information while the vehicle’s interaction with the road is mechanically communicated through the steering wheel “feel” and the driver seat motion. However, an opportunity exists to integrate the visual, audio, and haptic feedback channels in a more effective manner to increase driver safety. For instance, the driver may receive haptic driving information through high frequency and low amplitude steering wheel vibrations. Visual feedback may be presented in the form of LED lights on the dashboard and instrument cluster. Similarly, audio messages that are recognized through a different cognitive process than visual and haptic signals may be integrated into the cockpit. In this paper, a comprehensive approach is proposed for driver communication through visual, audio, and haptic feedback. Laboratory tests have been conducted with human subjects using a custom driving simulator to evaluate driver notification strategies. The effectiveness of each feedback channel is evaluated and the results demonstrate that the coordinated presentation of vehicle operational data through targeted feedback channels increase the operator’s overall safety.

Left or Right: Auditory Collision Warnings for Driving Assistance Systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 1551-1551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edin Sabic ◽  
Jing Chen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Collision Warning ◽  
Time To Collision ◽  
The Road ◽  
Driving Scenario ◽  
Assistance Systems ◽  
The Impact

Assistance driving systems aim to facilitate human behavior and increase safety on the road. These systems comprise common systems such as forward collision warning systems, lane deviation warning systems, and even park assistance systems. Warning systems can communicate with the driver through various modalities, but auditory warnings have the advantage of not further tasking visual resources that are primarily used for driving. Auditory warnings can also be presented from a certain location within the cab environment to be used by the driver as a cue. Beattie, Baillie, Halvey, and McCall (2014) assessed presenting warnings in stereo configuration, coming from one source, and bilateral configuration, panned fully from left or right, and found that drivers felt more in control with lateral warnings than stereo warnings when the car was in self-driving mode. Straughn, Gray, and Tan (2009) examined laterally presented auditory warnings to signal potential collisions. They found that the ideal presentation of warnings in either the avoidance direction, in which the driver should direct the car to avoid a collision, or the collision direction, in which the potential collision is located, was dependent on time to collision. Wang, Proctor, and Pick (2003) applied the stimulus-response compatibility principle to auditory warning design by using a steering wheel in a non-driving scenario and found that a tone presented monaurally in the avoidance-direction led to the fastest steering response. However, the reverse finding occurred when similar experiments utilized a driving simulator in a driving scenario (Straughn et al., 2009; Wang, Pick, Proctor, & Ye, 2007). The present study further investigated how to design spatially presented auditory collision warnings to facilitate drivers’ response to potential collisions. Specifically, tones indicating a pedestrian walking across the road were presented either in the avoidance direction or in the collision direction. The experimental task consisted of monitoring the road for potential collisions and turning the wheel in the appropriate direction to respond. Additionally, time to collision was manipulated to investigate the impact of the timing of the warning and increasing time pressure on the steering response. Time to collision was manipulated by half second intervals from two to four seconds resulting in five different time-to-collision scenarios. Lastly, the effect of individual differences in decision-making styles were also considered by using two decision-making style questionnaires. Results from the experiment showed that the presentation of a collision warning in the collision direction led to faster responses when compared to the warning in the avoidance direction. This result may be due to the collision warning directing the attention of the participant to the location of the threat so that they can more quickly make a response decision. Further, the advantage of avoidance-direction warnings over collision-direction warnings was greater with greater time to collision. Results showed that participant responses to varying time to collision influenced their reaction time. The participants appeared to have not relied solely on the auditory tones, but rather they utilized the warning tones in conjunction with visual information in the environment. These results from this study have implications for improving collision avoidance systems: Presentation of a collision warning in the direction of the collision may be more intuitive to drivers, regardless of time to collision.

scholarly journals Promoting eco-driving behavior through multisensory stimulation: a preliminary study on the use of visual and haptic feedback in a virtual reality driving simulator

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Pietra ◽  
Marina Vazquez Rull ◽  
Roberta Etzi ◽  
Alberto Gallace ◽  
Giulia Wally Scurati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Haptic Feedback ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Visual Stimulation ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Driving Behavior ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
Mean Power ◽  
Accelerator Pedal

AbstractThis paper describes the design and preliminary test of a virtual reality driving simulator capable of conveying haptic and visual messages to promote eco-sustainable driving behavior. The driving simulator was implemented through the Unity game engine; a large street environment, including high-speed and urban sections, was created to examine different driving behaviors. The hardware setup included a gaming driving seat, equipped with a steering wheel and pedals; the virtual scenarios were displayed through an Oculus Rift headset to guarantee an immersive experience. Haptic stimulation (i.e., vibrations) was delivered to the driver through the accelerator pedal, while visual stimuli (i.e., icons and colors) were shown on a virtual head-up display. The sensory feedbacks were presented both alone and in combination, providing information about excessive acceleration and speed. Four different virtual scenarios, each one including a distracting element (i.e., navigator, rain, call, and traffic), were also created. Ten participants tested the simulator. Fuel consumption was evaluated by calculating a mean power index (MPI) in reference to the sensory feedback presentation; physiological reactions and responses to a usability survey were also collected. The results revealed that the haptic and visuo-haptic feedback were responsible for an MPI reduction, respectively, for 14% and 11% compared with a condition of no feedback presentation; while visual feedback alone resulted in an MPI increase of 11%. The efficacy of haptic feedback was also accompanied by a more relaxing physiological state of the users, compared with the visual stimulation. The system’s usability was adequate, although haptic stimuli were rated slightly more intrusive than the visual ones. Overall, these preliminary results highlight how promising the use of the haptic channel can be in communicating and guiding the driver toward a more eco-sustainable behavior.

Evaluating the Effects of In-Vehicle Side-View Display Layout Design on Physical Demands of Driving

2019 ◽  
pp. 001872081988478
Author(s):  
Donghyun Beck ◽  
Jaemoon Jung ◽  
Woojin Park
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Head Movements ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
Monitor System ◽  
Side View ◽  
Physical Demands ◽  
Lane Changing ◽  
Physical Demand ◽  
The Road ◽  
Demand Reduction

Objective: A driving simulator study was conducted to comparatively evaluate the effects of three camera monitor system (CMS) display layouts and the traditional side-view mirror arrangement on the physical demands of driving. Background: Despite the possible benefits of CMS displays in reducing the physical demands of driving, little empirical evidence is available to substantiate these benefits. The effects of CMS display layout designs are not well understood. Method: The three CMS display layouts varied in the locations of the side-view displays: (A) inside the car near the conventional side-view mirrors, (B) on the dashboard at each side of the steering wheel, and (C) on the center fascia with the displays joined side by side. Twenty-two participants performed a safety-critical lane changing task with each design alternative. The dependent measures were the following: spread of eye movement, spread of head movement, and perceived physical demand. Results: Compared with the traditional mirror system, all three CMS display layouts showed a reduction in physical demands, albeit differing in the types/magnitudes of physical demand reduction. Conclusion: Well-designed CMS display layouts could significantly reduce the physical demands of driving. The physical demands were reduced by placing the CMS displays close to the position of the driver’s normal line-of-sight when looking at the road ahead and locating each CMS display on each side of the driver, that is, at locations compatible with the driver’s expectation. Application: Physical demand reductions by CMS displays would especially benefit drivers frequently checking the side-view mirrors with large eye/head movements and physically weak/impaired drivers.

scholarly journals Examination of Realism in a High-Fidelity Tractor Driving Simulator

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 123-137
Author(s):  
Kayla Faust ◽  
Carri Casteel ◽  
Daniel V. McGehee ◽  
Marizen Ramirez ◽  
Diane S. Rohlman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
List Type ◽  
Driving Simulators ◽  
Simulated Driving ◽  
Perceived Realism ◽  
Farm Equipment ◽  
Equipment Operator

HighlightsDescribes the creation of a new high-fidelity tractor driving simulator.Describes the perceived realism of a tractor driving simulator among 99 Midwestern farm equipment operators.Examines how farm equipment operator characteristics affect perceived realism of a tractor driving simulator.Discusses potential improvements for future generations of tractor driving simulators.Abstract. Transportation-related incidents are the leading cause of occupational fatalities for all industries in the U.S., including the agricultural industry, which suffers thousands of crashes involving farm equipment each year. Simulated driving studies offer a safe and cost-effective way to conduct driving research that would not be feasible in the real world. A tractor driving miniSim was developed and then evaluated for realism at the University of Iowa among 99 Midwestern farm equipment operators. It is important for driving simulators to have a high degree of realism for their results to be applicable to non-simulated driving operations. High-fidelity driving simulators facilitate extrapolations made by driving research but should be re-tested for realism when changes are made to the design of the simulator. The simulator used in this study emulated a tractor cab with realistic controls, three high-resolution screens, and high-fidelity sound. After completing a 10-minute drive, farm equipment operators completed a survey and scored four specific domains assessing specific characteristics (i.e., appearance, user interface, control, and sound) of the tractor simulator’s realism using a seven-point Likert scale (from 0 = not at all realistic to 6 = completely realistic). An overall realism score and domain scores were calculated. Farm equipment operators were also asked to provide recommendations for improving the tractor miniSim. Overall, farm equipment operators rated the simulator’s realism favorably (i.e., >3 on a scale from 0 to 6) for all individual items and domains. The appearance domain received the highest average realism score (mean = 4.58, SD = 1.03), and the sound domain received the lowest average realism score (mean = 3.86, SD = 1.57). We found no significant differences in realism scores across farm equipment operator characteristics. The most frequently suggested improvements were to tighten the steering wheel (27%), make the front tires visible (19%), and that no improvements were needed to improve the simulator realism (18%). This study demonstrates that the new tractor miniSim is a viable approach to studying farm equipment operations and events that can lead to tractor-related crashes. Future studies should incorporate the suggested improvements and seek to validate the simulator as a research and outreach instrument. Keywords: Driving simulator, Farm equipment operators, Realism, Tractors.

scholarly journals Systematic comparison of experimental assays and analytical pipelines for identification of active enhancers genome-wide

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Yao ◽  
Jin Liang ◽  
Abdullah Ozer ◽  
Alden King-Yung Leung ◽  
John T. Lis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Nascent Transcript ◽  
Transcription Start Sites ◽  
The Road ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Active Enhancer ◽  
Effective Manner

Mounting evidence supports the idea that transcriptional patterns serve as more specific identifiers of active enhancers than histone marks; however, the optimal strategy to identify active enhancers both experimentally and computationally has not been determined. In this study, we compared 13 genome-wide RNA sequencing assays in K562 cells and showed that the nuclear run-on followed by cap-selection assay (namely, GRO/PRO-cap) has significant advantages in eRNA detection and active enhancer identification. We also introduced a new analytical tool, Peak Identifier for Nascent-Transcript Sequencing (PINTS), to identify active promoters and enhancers genome-wide and pinpoint the precise location of the 5′ transcription start sites (TSSs) within these regulatory elements. Finally, we compiled a comprehensive enhancer candidate compendium based on the detected eRNA TSSs available in 120 cell and tissue types. To facilitate the exploration and prioritization of these enhancer candidates, we also built a user-friendly web server (https://pints.yulab.org) for the compendium with various additional genomic and epigenomic annotations. With the knowledge of the best available assays and pipelines, this large-scale annotation of candidate enhancers will pave the road for selection and characterization of their functions in a time-, labor-, and cost-effective manner in future.

scholarly journals On steering wobble oscillations of motorcycles

2004 ◽  
Vol 218 (12) ◽  
pp. 1449-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
R S Sharp ◽  
D J N Limebeer
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
Forced Motion ◽  
Natural Response ◽  
Work Supports

The paper is aimed at an improved understanding of steering wobble oscillations of motorcycles through simulation. The background to the problem is discussed first. Then, an existing mathematical model of a manoeuvring motorcycle and rider is extended to include a yaw freedom for the upper body of the rider. The rider upper body and arm structural parameters are chosen in the light of newly published results from the testing of human subjects in a driving simulator, with forced motion of the steering wheel by means of an electric motor. Results show that steering wobble oscillations grow more vigorously as their amplitude increases beyond a few degrees of steering and that the stabilizing influence of the rider's tensing his/her muscles in response to a growing wobble problem is small. The work supports the idea that any machine which has a very lightly damped wobble mode at some operating condition may be made unstable by an unusual set of initial conditions and that the natural response of the rider to the problem will be largely ineffective. This idea is closely aligned with anecdotal accounts from general motorcycle usage.

scholarly journals Improved Haptic Transparency of Bilateral Control Using Torque-Measured Magnetic Coupling

Machines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Trieu-Khang Tu ◽  
I-Haur Tsai ◽  
Jia-Yush Yen ◽  
Tsu-Chin Tsao ◽  
Mi-Ching Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Feedback Control ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Haptic Feedback ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Magnetic Coupling ◽  
Force Sensor ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
Bilateral Control ◽  
Mechanical Spring ◽  
Reaction Torque

The integrity and transparency of a haptic feedback in a bilateral control is crucial for precise and accurate operators’ sensation during human–machine interactions. Conventional master and slave bilateral control systems are often subject to unknown or unwanted disturbances and dynamics in the actuators and powertrain linkages that hamper the haptic feedback integrity and transparency. Force sensor torque sensing and feedback control are required to mitigate these effects. In contrast to the conventional approach of introducing torque sensing using a mechanical spring, this paper introduces a magnetic coupling as a torque sensor to detect reaction torque between the human input and the master actuator. Disturbance observer-based torque feedback control is designed to suppress the disturbances and tailor the haptic transparency dynamics. Experimental results on a virtual reality interaction system, which involves the steering wheel bilateral control in a cyber-physical driving simulator system, demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method with improved haptic integrity and transparency.

Research on Fidelity of Driving Simulators

2011 ◽  
Vol 308-310 ◽  
pp. 1880-1884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei Xin Li ◽  
Yan Ding Wei ◽  
Xiao Jun Zhou ◽  
Chun Yu Wei ◽  
Ming Xiang Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Algorithm ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
Dynamics Modeling ◽  
Driving Simulators ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Road ◽  
Body Dynamics ◽  
Wheel Torque ◽  
Multi Body

Through analyzing the specialty and limitation of the current driving simulators, the main factors affecting fidelity of driving simulators are summarized. Then, a new driving simulator of high fidelity based on the multi-body dynamics is proposed, with focus on the dynamics modeling and the road feel. Furthermore, a control algorithm of the road feel is designed and by the means of co-simulations in MATLAB/Simulink and ADAMS environment, the measuring steering wheel torque proves the control algorithm of road feel is reasonable. The control algorithm has been put into practice and got satisfactory results.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document