Motion sickness in automated vehicles – Designing for non-driving tasks

Congratulations on taking your first steps toward a Research Degree with Coventry’s Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing. As an ambitious and innovative University, we’re investing an initial £100m into our new research strategy, ‘Excellence with Impact’. Through original approaches from world-leading experts, we’re aiming for our research to make a tangible difference to the way we live. As a research student you are an integral part of Coventry’s lively and diverse research community and contribute to our reputation for excellence. With our exceptional facilities and superb support mechanisms you are afforded every opportunity for academic success.

The project
Approximately 60% of all humans have experienced carsickness. The issue can be predicted to become significantly worse with automated vehicles where people not only are no longer in control of the vehicle, but may also engage in non-driving tasks such as browsing the web or watching a movie. The User Interface (UI) will play a significant role herein and can be two-sided: it may exacerbate the situation, but may also mitigate the occurrence of motion sickness. The aim of the proposed research is to explore the effect of UI characteristics such as display size, position, and content, and their interactions with different vehicle motion profiles on motion sickness. The research will provide a set of design guidelines for the development of future automated vehicle UIs to minimise the likelihood of motion sickness and facilitate the adoption and acceptance of this new technology.

About the Centre/Department
Our research in Mobility & Transport works across our faculties and focuses on the design and engineering of future transport systems, including the growing influence of the internet and connectivity. The focus is on inclusive, sustainable and safe transport integrating the strongest research elements in design and engineering. Future transport systems have a number of high level aims including ambitions to totally eliminate road fatalities, to eliminate congestion, to provide users with seamless integrated and connected transport systems, to eliminate emissions and to develop vehicles and systems that use lightweight, efficient and recycled materials.

Successful applicants
-A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the Project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.

-In the event of a first degree classification of less than 2:1, a Masters Degree in a relevant subject area will be considered as an equivalent. The Masters must have been attained with overall marks at merit level (60%). In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a mark at merit level (60%).

-the potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a three-year period of study

-a minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)

Additionally

-knowledge and/or experience in Human Factors (engineering) or related sciences

-a good knowledge of experimental design and statistics

-experience of (or a willingness to quickly learn) HMI development.

Eligibility & application procedure
Application Procedure:
Application information can be found in our how to apply section. Before completing the application please contact Dr. Cyriel Diels (cc'ing [Email Address Removed] when you do) for an initial informal discussion about the opportunity.

Eligibility:
All UK/EU/International students are eligible to apply that meet the academic requirements, the eligibility criteria can be found at http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/research-entry-criteria/?id=88841