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This paper describes the contribution of the closed-loop control of the motion platform (six degrees of freedom: longitudinal, lateral, and vertical displacements; pitch, roll, yaw) and motion platform’s three-dimensional (3D) displacement scale factor (SF) (0.2 and 1.0) on eye pupil diameter (PD) as an objective measure of driver cognitive load. Longitudinal, lateral, and vertical accelerations as well as longitudinal, lateral, and vertical positions from the center of gravity (CG) of the vehicle were registered through the driving simulation software SCANeRstudio® from OKTAL. Closed-loop control decreases the driver mental load. This type of closed-loop control can be used to decrease the driver mental load.

Angular velocity perception plays an important role for a better sense of presence in driving simulators. This paper deals with the angular velocity perception threshold and sense of presence. A three degrees of freedom (DOF: roll, pitch, and heave) driving simulator, a motion tracking sensor, a driving simulation software, and self-prepared questionnaires were used. Due to the subjective assessments, there were no significant differences between static and dynamic platform types. Eight different cases were investigated with respect to visual and inertial factors (field of view (FOV) and motion platform). Subjective evaluations showed that there were no significant differences between static and dynamic conditions. Lower FOV, static platform, stereo vision condition has provided the best condition (best realism depending on objective-subjective measure relationship).

By the action on the steering wheel, the driver has the capability to control the trajectory of its vehicle. Nevertheless, the steering wheel has also the role of information provider to the driver. In particular, the torque level at the steering wheel informs the driver about the interaction between the vehicle and the road. This information flow is natural due to the mechanical chain between the road and the steering wheel. Many studies have shown that steering wheel torque feedback is crucial to ensure the control of the vehicle. In the context of uncoupled steering (steer-by-wire vehicle or driving simulators), the torque rendering on the steering wheel is a major challenge. In addition, of the trajectory control, the quality of this torque is a key for the immersion of drivers in virtual environment such as in driving simulators. The torque-rendering loop is composed of different steps.

In order to improve driver safety, car manufacturers propose a wide range of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS). Their behavior can drastically modify the vehicle dynamics and generate for the driver a discrepancy between the expected and observed behavior. The modification of car response can also be due to the occurrence of an ADAS component failure. It appears the assessment of the impact of such systems and such events on the driver is a major challenge, which designers have to cope with. However, it appears, the monitoring of driver's response may become complex to implement on real car or even hazardous. The introduction of driving simulator allows overcoming many of these limitations but the conduct of exhaustive experiments is also difficult considering the number of possible events, driving context and involving a wide range of drivers' profiles. The use of driver models which is able to reflect driver control behavior in such conditions is necessary.

PROMETHEUS, a Research Cooperation Program, uniting the primary European Automotive Companies, strives to improve Road Safety and Traffic Efficiency by developing appropriate information and communication technology. Industrial Application Projects are designed by the Function Groups, concerned with Driver Assistance by electronics systems and Vehicle to Vehicle and/or Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communication. We describe the Function Group's activity and analyze the pre-competitive research Design Process for a Cooperative Control application assessed by the corresponding Thematic Working Groups. Such an application is designed along a Top-down approach starting with defining the strategies concepts, a technical baseline, investigating critical areas and technical solutions. For the given application, requirements are analyzed for a Positioning System and a Communication Device. Specifications are determined according to reliability and safety criteria.