Driving simulators are a powerful tool that however present some intrinsic limitations that should be taken into account to draw the right conclusions trom their use. In a simulator, several parameter tunings can be done, allowing us to study the effects of motion on the subjects seated in them. The research is based on two types of simulator architectures: the first one is the classical 6-dof Stewart platform; the second one is a spherical 4-dof platform. The study follows two main guidelines: the implementation of a simulation logic able to imitate typical motion manoeuvres that a land vehicle follows in driving performance; using this simulation logic some tests on different subjects will be carried out, in order to analyse human performance and the effects of the motion simulator. Special attention should be paid to motion sickness phenomena. These results are considered as fundamental to establish some rules for the use of driving simulators in human factors and biomechanical research. (A)
Abstract