The Potential of Haptic Motion Cueing to mitigate Motion Sickness in Highly Automated Passenger Cars

Abstract: The evolution of road vehicle towards high levels of automation is forecasted along with a higher prevalence of motion sickness on board such transportation systems. Experiencing such situations may precipitate concerns related to comfort, safety and trust, potentially compromising the overall acceptability of these vehicles among users. While prevalent in various modes of transportation, motion sickness is an intricate physiological reaction of the human body, likely to be caused by inconsistent perception of the motion forces, and a lack of postural stability. The use of haptic stimuli as sensory motion cues (“haptic cues”) should be underscored as an effective countermeasure. This approach offers the advantage of seamless integration with other mitigation techniques. Haptic cues also have virtues for helping in the estimation of self-motion in space and anticipation. Through a concise analysis of the prior research, this paper surveys the potential strategies and systems for the effective delivery of haptic cues to alleviate motion sickness in cars while considering the prerequisites associated with passenger comfort. The results show that vibrotactile and arthrokinetic signals can act as force-based haptic cues to mitigate motion sickness in cars. The provision of airflow, concurrently serving as a thermal cue, shows potential for motion sickness mitigation, but the exact underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Studies conducted in cars suggest that haptic stimulations can only be effective when congruent visual cues are provided. The different types of haptic systems are proffered for potential in-car integration, along with their respective operating principles to enhance perceptibility.

Keywords: Motion Sickness, Haptic Systems, Vehicle Automation, Human Factors, Passenger comfort, Human-Machine Interaction

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005369

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