Quantitative Indicators of Simulator Motion Cue Quality

The problem of motion simulation of real vehicles within a limited workspace has been an active field of research since the 1970’s, producing multiple solutions known as motion drive algorithms. This paper presents a new set of quantitative indicators that can be used to compare motion cues produced by different algorithms. These indicators are based on vestibular sensor response to motion. They serve as a direct link between motion cue errors and the overall quality of motion perception aboard the simulator. The use of the indicators is exposed through a computational experiment in which motion cues produced through a classical washout algorithm are compared to those produced by a controller based on the human centered approach. Finally, the advantages and future applications of the indicators are discussed.