Tomonori Ohtsubo

Biomechanical and Psychophysical Evaluation of Operating Loads in Vehicular Driving

The present paper proposes an evaluation method of operation loads in vehicular driving, such as the joint-load, the seat pressure, and the perceiving force, based on biomechanical and psychophysical evidences to assist the human-centered design of driving interfaces. The prototype simulator is developed by means of a big experimental data of human motor properties and force-perception properties related with driving operations. The usefulness of the proposed methodology is then demonstrated through a set of simulation experiments in the case of the curve traveling situation.

Effects of differences in vision upon drivers’ spatial cognition:: Focus on the subjective and objective viewpoints

To support spatial cognition by drivers, it is becoming common for cameras and monitors to be attached to automobiles to enable drivers to see perspectives (objective viewpoints) besides their own field of vision (subjective viewpoint). Previous studies have suggested that the difference between the subjective and objective viewpoints influences drivers’ spatial cognition of their automobiles; however, the specific impacts on the human cognitive process of recognizing space, and on driving performance, have yet to be revealed.

Comparison of Rearview Options for Drivers Using a Virtual 3-D Simulation

Mirrors are used for showing the backward view in conventional driving. However, it has become possible to present the rear space using cameras and monitors as international regulations have been changed in recent years. This increases the freedom of choosing the type of the backward view. The purpose of this study is to experimentally clarify how human spatial perception is influenced by the display method, especially the presentation position and the viewpoint. We prepared a setup in which a simulated vehicle moves while the participant views the front and backward virtual 3-D space. We analyzed the subjective evaluation, the performance, and the eye movement of participants during the task and searched for an optimum presentation position and viewpoint. As a result, we found that it is easier for participants to understand the space with an integrated monitor rather than separated monitors. They could better unify the viewpoints of the rearview and the side view, objectively or subjectively, when these views are independent. In contrast, we suspect that either viewpoint was suitable when presenting the entire backward view with one camera. Also, we suggest that their ease of understanding the space varies considerably depending on the visible field in the bird’s-eye view.