RWTH Aachen University advances Autonomous Driving research with SensoWheel and SensoStick
Following Chalmers University of Technology, the RWTH Aachen University is now also relying on Sensodrive's high-end simulator products to successfully shape the future of autonomous driving. The EMMI project aims to significantly increase user trust and acceptance of autonomous driving systems—an essential step toward widespread adoption. Our two Sensodrive products, SensoWheel force feedback steering system and SensoStick 3-Axis Joystick, will provide significant support in obtaining reliable results.
RWTH researchers focus on building trust in Autonomous Driving Systems
One of the biggest challenges for the future of autonomous driving is to gain passengers' trust in the technology used. A research team at RWTH Aachen has identified three key approaches:
- AI-based voice assistants
Virtual driving assistants that communicate with passengers via voice input and output enable vehicle occupants to interact via communication channels that are natural to them. In this way, intelligent chatbots increase trust in automated systems. - Visualisation of vehicle status and information on their surroundings
Passengers' understanding of the automation functions is noticeably increased, as they can continuously visualise environmental factors, vehicle status and surrounding information on monitors in the vehicle. - Indirect vehicle guidance as an option
Passengers have more trust in automated systems when they have the option of overriding the automation, i.e. to actively intervene themselves. Since direct physical control (steering, braking, accelerating) is excluded for safety reasons, users are given the option of indirect vehicle control. This means that while the vehicle is driving autonomously, users can give instructions via an interface without directly interfering with the vehicle's operation. For example, adjustments to driving style and comfort settings.
Sensodrive products enable perfect simulator tests.
When investigating indirect vehicle guidance in simulator tests, the ika team at RWTH Aachen University relies on technically market-leading simulator components from Sensodrive. The test subjects in the driving simulator initially control their vehicle manually using a SensoWheel simulator steering wheel. Once they hand the vehicle over to the autopilot, they can use a SensoStick joystick to adjust certain driving parameters according to their personal preferences.
The advantages of Sensodrive components:
An absolutely realistic driving experience:
SensoWheel and SensoStick provide highly precise tactile feedback and give the driver the feeling of sitting in a real vehicle during all actions.
High flexibility:
As a flexible interaction tool, the SensoStick is a perfect interface for indirect vehicle guidance. During automated driving, the user can switch between different torque profiles and thus influence the vehicle's behaviour.
Seamless integration:
Both the SensoWheel and the SensoStick feature perfect haptics and can be seamlessly integrated into the demanding simulator environment of the test series.
Conclusion: Sensodrive accelerates the future of autonomous driving.
The research results of the EMMI project clearly show that personalizing the driving experience will play a key role in the development of autonomous driving. Innovations such as the SensoStick already show how this individual control of the driving experience can be perfectly implemented. And how autonomous driving systems with torque technology from Sensodrive can become even more intuitive, adaptive, and user-friendly.
More information about Sensodrive's leading-edge simulator products.
