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With Memorial Day excursions approaching, innovative technology brings optimism for those who experience car sickness
Few weekends attract more individuals for extended car trips than Memorial Day Weekend, with AAA forecasting approximately 39 million travelers this year. Unfortunately, motion sickness may render those journeys uncomfortable and unenjoyable for many.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have introduced a novel technology, ready for integration into current automobiles, that diminishes motion sickness by nearly 50%. For the 1 in every 2 children and 1 in 3 adults afflicted by the condition, it offers a remedy that does not induce the drowsiness associated with conventional medications.
The method employed by U-M concentrates on the root cause of motion sickness—vehicle movements that catch passengers unaware when they aren’t focused on the road ahead. Dubbed PREACT, the technology transmits cues through the seat to inform passengers about forthcoming movements. It can also adjust the seat’s angle to replicate how the body would instinctively brace for turns and stops if passengers were watching the road ahead.
“We term it PREACT because it anticipates the vehicle’s motions and responds proactively to mitigate the impact of the vehicle’s movement on the passenger’s body,” explained Shorya Awtar, a professor of mechanical engineering at U-M and director of the Precision Systems Design Laboratory. “We utilize real-time and historical data from onboard sensors to forecast the vehicle’s imminent motions and use that information to prepare passengers for what’s ahead.”
After five years of exploration, technological advancements, and extensive human trials, PREACT is progressing towards real-world application.
In March, Awtar and Daniel Sousa Schulman, a doctoral student and chief engineer of PREACT, collaborated with U-M’s Innovation Partnerships to establish Motion Sync, a tech startup aiming to commercialize the technology. Motion Sync has initiated a partnership with a prominent automobile manufacturer—an alliance designed to investigate and demonstrate PREACT’s applicability for the manufacturer’s vehicles.
One version of the technology incorporates automatically tilting seats or tightening seatbelts to prepare passengers for impending movements. Such active seats and seatbelts would be integrated directly into the vehicle’s architecture.
Another variant of the PREACT technology can be added to any current vehicle. In this scenario, PREACT delivers haptic signals to passengers ahead of turns, acceleration, and braking, ensuring they aren’t taken by surprise by the vehicle’s motions. For instance, a vibration on the left side of the seat alerts the occupant to ready themselves for a left turn.
Schulman, CEO of Motion Sync, mentioned that the retrofitted haptic version adds only a slight weight to a vehicle, demands minimal energy, and comes at a low price point.
“Consumers will have the option to select whichever PREACT version best suits their requirements, whether it be the integrated or retrofitted variant,” he stated. “This flexibility will make PREACT affordable and accessible to a broader audience.”
The research team behind PREACT conducted trials with over 150 participants at Mcity, using specially equipped test vehicles on tracks that replicate both urban and highway conditions. Findings indicated a statistically significant decrease in participants’ experiences of motion sickness, with 80% expressing a desire for the technology in their next vehicle purchase.
PREACT would function in today’s human-operated vehicles, including electric and hybrid models. While both types of vehicles recharge batteries through regenerative braking, this more aggressive deceleration can lead to heightened motion sickness.
Similar to ridesharing platforms like Uber and Lyft, PREACT could enhance autonomous vehicles’ promise of transforming commutes and longer travels into productive or leisurely time, allowing passengers to shift their focus away from the road without experiencing motion sickness.
“Important questions remain: ‘Will consumers trust these autonomous vehicles or will there be discomfort for those inside them?’” Awtar remarked. “Considering the human factors involved is crucial if it is to become the standard mode of transportation. Motion Sync is addressing some of these issues and aims to make PREACT available to the public in the near future.”
This research received partial funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Center for Connected and Automated Transportation and the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization for Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub.
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