Motion Cueing Optimization

I am a PhD student with background in biomedical engineering. I currently work on the Wahrnehmungsbasierte Bewegungssimulation (WABS) project within the Motion Perception and Simulation research group. My research interest is to investigate and optimize techniques to perceptually expand the limited physical workspace of dynamic vehicles simulators. This is done by implementing knowledge of human self-motion perception into the control framework of the simulators (Motion Compression) and by exploiting galvanic vestibular stimulation.

I use the MPI CyberMotion simulator to provide wide motion ranges and an immersive virtual environment. Perceptual thresholds and sensitivity for self-motion are estimated in different conditions using psychophysical adaptive methods. I use behavioral tasks to measure subjects’ performances both objectively (e.g. errors, failures, deviations, delays) and subjectively (e.g. preference judgments on motion fidelity). Additionally, I use GVS in combination with eye-tracking techniques to adjust in real time the perceived motion for individual subjects.

Perceptual thresholds and tilt coordination in motion simulation

Current physical limitations of motion simulators do not allow for the reproduction of sustained linear accelerations. However, a simulator workspace can be illusorily expanded by moving observers below perceptual thresholds for motion. Particularly, sustained linear accelerations can be simulated by tilting observers below perceptual threshold (tilt coordination). Indeed, when tilted, gravity induces an otolith response that is equivalent to the one induced by horizontal linear translation. However, an optimized tilt coordination technique needs to consider that perceptual thresholds also depend on the combination of additional sensory cues and cognitive factors.

I aim to:

1. measure perceptual thresholds for translation and tilt when vestibular stimulation alone is presented

2. measure perceptual thresholds for tilt in ecological conditions (e.g. while negotiating a curve in a driving simulation)

3. measure perceptual thresholds for tilt when subjects’ mental workload is systematically varied

4. relate the above measured thresholds to slalom driving performances and perceived realism

5. use Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) to improve tilt coordination by artificially increasing tilt thresholds as a result of electrical stimulation of the vestibular system’s afferent fibers

Part of this work will be developed in collaboration with the project WABS (Wahrnehmungsbasierte Bewegungssimulation).

WABS - Perception-based motion simulation

The traditional approach to motion simulation is based on the idea that real motion should be exactly reproduced by simulators. However, in many cases the generated motion fails to provide the correct sensation and in extreme cases the discrepancy can lead to motion sickness. The problem does not lie in the technical capabilities of the simulators, but rather on the fact that current approaches focus only on the fidelity of physical motion.

The new perception-based motion simulation approach aims to bring the impression of generated motion as close as possible to reality by implementing psychophysical laws of perception into the control framework of the simulators. Human motion perception models will then be experimentally tested in driving and flying scenarios using the CyberMotion Simulator in order enable a new generation of highly effective motion simulators.

Education

• 10/2010 - now: PhD in Neuroscience at the "Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics" - Spemannstrase 41 - 72076 Tübingen, Germany

• 10/2003 - 04/2010: Master’s degree in biomedical engineering at "Università degli Studi di Pavia" - Via Ferrata, 1 - 27100 Pavia - Italy

• 07/2003: European Baccalaureat at the "European School of Varese" - Via Montello, 118 - 21100 Varese - italy

Professional experience

• 01/10/2009 - 26/04/2010: Development of Hardware and Software for clinical instrumentation at Bioengeneering Laboratory with Professor Giorgio Beltrami - Via Ferrata 1 - 27100 Pavia

• 01/09/2006 - 16/07/2007: Development of Hardware and Software for clinical instrumentation at Bioengeneering Laboratory with Professor Giorgio Beltrami - Via Ferrata 1 - 27100 Pavia