Effects of Visual Display and Motion System Delays on Operator Performance and Uneasiness in a Driving Simulator

Abstract

The role of visual-motion coupling delays and cuing order on operator performance and uneasiness was assessed in a driving simulator by means of a response surface methodology central-composite design. The most salient finding of the study was that visual delay appears to be more disruptive to an individual's control performance and well-being than motion delay. Empirical mutliple regression models were derived to predict 10 reliable measures of simulator operator driving performance and comfort. Principal components analysis on these 10 models decomposed the dependent measures into two significant models, which were labeled vestibular disruption and degraded performance. Examination of the empirical models revealed that for asynchronous delay conditions, better performance and wellbeing were achieved when the visual system led the motion system. A secondary analysis of the role of subject gender and perceptual style on susceptibility to simulator sickness revealed that neither of these independent variables was a significant source of variance.