Advanced AI set to transform the motion simulator experience

Associate Professor Houshyar Asadi’s Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) project focuses on designing and developing a High-Fidelity Motion Simulator using Sickness-Free Motion Cueing Algorithms (MCAs) powered by advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This research addresses the critical limitations of current motion simulators, which often cause simulator sickness due to inefficient MCAs that fail to accurately replicate real-world motion sensations.

Simulator sickness occurs because of unrealistic simulator motion and a mismatch between the visual cues perceived by the user’s eyes and the motion cues perceived by the user’s vestibular system.

Low fidelity and simulator sickness are key drawbacks of existing simulators, which demotivate participants and negatively affect the outcomes of training, user behaviour analysis, and virtual prototyping.

By considering human perception-related factors and integrating adaptive MCAs with advanced artificial intelligence techniques and optimal control theory, building upon Assoc. Prof. Asadi’s state-of-the-art PhD research, his intelligent, human-centric MCA enhances motion fidelity while eliminating user discomfort.

This approach addresses key deficiencies in existing driving and flight simulators and provides a highly realistic platform for effective training, user behaviour analysis, performance evaluation, and virtual prototyping.

This ARC project has also resulted in over 25 high-quality journal and conference papers.

Novel research with big potential

This ARC research has the potential to revolutionise driver and pilot training, user performance evaluation, and virtual prototyping in safer testing environments across various industries, including aviation, automotive, and defense, both in Australia and globally.

By eliminating simulator sickness and enhancing motion fidelity, the high-fidelity simulators improve the effectiveness of training programs, contributing to better-prepared drivers and pilots. This advancement directly supports efforts to reduce road crashes in Australia, which currently cost the economy $27 billion annually.

Additionally, the research benefits the automotive industry by enabling safer and more cost-effective virtual prototyping, reducing the need for expensive, high-risk physical prototypes.

This approach accelerates the vehicle design process while minimising human testing risks. Beyond transportation, the research offers significant value to advanced manufacturing and defence sectors, promoting innovation and safety.

The development of affordable, sickness-free simulators will position Australia at the forefront of motion simulation technology, fostering collaboration between academia and industry and contributing to national and global research excellence.