Assessing the Validity of the Ride Motion Simulator for a Remote Vehicle Control Task

Abstract

The lightweight, fast-moving design proposed for operations occurring within 5-10 years requires Soldiers riding as passengers in moving vehicles to perform operations previously conducted only in stationary environments. Operating under motion conditions can lead to performance degradations associated with physical perturbations and conflicting sensory inputs, which are associated with motion sickness. Full-motion simulators offer the flexibility to model and rapidly test multiple vehicle profiles and crew station design configurations while providing increased experimental control. However, a major concern is whether or not a simulator can evoke the behavioral responses observed in real life. This validation study compares the results of two complementary experiments that examined task performance while operators underwent either simulated or actual vehicle motion. Driving performance indicated differences between the experiments for several measures, while motion sickness questionnaire subscales indicated similar patterns of results across both experiments. Overall, support was found for both absolute and relative validity of using the simulator to examine issues related to motion sickness, but not for performance measures. Our results support the premise that simulators can be valuable for inducing specific types of real-life behaviors that will be inherent to designs proposed for future forces.