Assessing the Impact of 3DOF Motion on Driver Performance in a Small DiL

Research was conducted to evaluate and rank four motion cueing algorithms using a low-cost 3 Degree-of-Freedom Driver-in-Loop (DiL) simulator. The primary focus is whether a small motion base impacts vehicle assessment. Non-vestibular cueing augmented the DiL along with feedback from a steering motor, visual, and audio cues. Four motion cueing algorithms were evaluated - static platform, vibrating static platform, vendor washout algorithm, and pitch/roll motion from vehicle model with vibration. Driver performance in two standard maneuvers was obtained with each configuration. Double Lane Change and Slalom maneuvers were used to assess lateral vehicle dynamics. Lateral Acceleration and Yaw Rate were used to analyze vehicle performance, while driver performance was analyzed using steering input, and correctional steering. The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire was used to assess simulator sickness. The research demonstrated that motion had a significant positive impact on steering input and vehicle performance-based metrics. In addition, the actual vehicle-model based motion cueing algorithm reduced excess high-frequency steering activity. The double lane change was shown to be better at differentiating the cueing algorithms compared to slalom.