A Machine Vision Approach for Estimating Motion Discomfort in Simulators and in Self-Driving

Motion discomfort in highly automated vehicles and in simulators represents a persistent problem that might be mitigated if it can be monitored. In driving simulators, motion discomfort can compromise data collection. In highly automated vehicles, motion discomfort can discourage people from riding in such vehicles, undermining the potential safety benefits. Monitoring motion sickness in real-time can help mitigate its negative consequences. This report investigates the potential of machine vision techniques in estimating motion discomfort in real-time for both, simulators and highly automated vehicles. Drivers’ video data and simulator sickness scores collected in the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) driving simulator were analyzed. The video data were reduced to the facial action units (basic units of facial expressions) and head pose estimations. While results did not show significant correlations between motion score and facial expressions, the authors found a significant correlation between the drivers’ head position and motion sickness severity. One important outcome of this project was a computer-aiding tool for manual coding of videos. The tool can be used to advance research on the topic of motion sickness and also in other fields and areas that rely on video analytics like affective computing.

• Dataset URL:
  https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/ZHGT7U
• Record URL:
  http://safersim.nads-sc.uiowa.edu/final_reports/UW%202%20Y2_Report.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56076
• Dataset URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56619
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program. Supporting datasets available at: https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/ZHGT7U
• Corporate Authors:

  Safety Research Using Simulation University Transportation Center (SaferSim)

  University of Iowa
  Iowa City, IA  United States  52242

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Lee, John D
  • 0000-0001-9808-2160
  • Alsaid, Areen
  • 0000-0003-2852-9750
• Publication Date: 2019-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 44p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Comfort; Drivers; Driving simulators; Estimating; Head; Machine vision; Motion sickness; Video
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01736329
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747131
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 20 2020 10:52AM