Electrogastrography in autonomous vehicles : an objective method for assessment of motion sickness in simulated driving environments

Gruden, Timotej (avtor), Popović, Nenad B. (avtor), Stojmenova Pečečnik, Kristina (avtor), Jakus, Grega (avtor), Miljković, Nadica (avtor), Tomažič, Sašo (avtor), Sodnik, Jaka (avtor)

Autonomous vehicles are expected to take complete control of the driving process, enabling the former drivers to act as passengers only. This could lead to increased sickness as they can be engaged in tasks other than driving. Adopting different sickness mitigation techniques gives us unique types of motion sickness in autonomous vehicles to be studied. In this paper, we report on a study where we explored the possibilities of assessing motion sickness with electrogastrography (EGG), a non-invasive method used to measure the myoelectric activity of the stomach, and its potential usage in autonomous vehicles (AVs). The study was conducted in a high-fidelity driving simulator with a virtual reality (VR) headset. There separate EGG measurements were performed: before, during and after the driving AV simulation video in VR. During the driving, the participants encountered two driving environments: a straight and less dynamic highway road and a highly dynamic and curvy countryside road. The EGG signal was recorded with a proprietary 3-channel recording device and Ag/AgCl cutaneous electrodes. In addition, participants were asked to signalize whenever they felt uncomfortable and nauseated by pressing a special button. After the drive they completed also the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) and reported on their overall subjective perception of sickness symptoms. The EGG results showed a significant increase of the dominant frequency (DF) and the percentage of the high power spectrum density (FSD) as well as a significant decrease of the power spectrum density Crest factor (CF) during the AV simulation. The vast majority of participants reported nausea during more dynamic conditions, accompanied by an increase in the amplitude and the RMS value of EGG. Reported nausea occurred simultaneously with the increase in EGG amplitude. Based on the results, we conclude that EGG could be used for assessment of motion sickness in autonomous vehicles. DF, CF and FSD can be used as overall sickness indicators, while the relative increase in amplitude of EGG signal and duration of that increase can be used as short-term sickness indicators where the driving environment may affect the driver.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: electrogastrography, autonomous vehicles, motion sickness, driving simulators, virtual reality
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FE - Fakulteta za elektrotehniko
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2021
• Št. strani: 20 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 21, iss. 2, art. 550
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-134929
• UDK: 004:629.4.072
• ISSN pri članku: 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s21020550
• COBISS.SI-ID: 47242243
• Datum objave v RUL: 11.02.2022

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Sensors
• Skrajšan naslov: Sensors
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 1424-8220
• COBISS.SI-ID: 10176278

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.
• Začetek licenciranja: 14.01.2021

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: elektrogastrografija, avtonomna vozila, slabost, simulatorji vožnje, navidezna resničnost