Car sickness control unit

This so-called "car sickness indicator" measures car accelerations in three dimensions, and calculates the nauseating extent of these. A green LED means "good", yellow "caution", and a red LED (possibly accompanied by a beep) signals the driver about "bad" passenger comfort. These calculations are a simplification of a comprehensive six-degrees-of-freedom mathematical motion sickness model that has been developed at TNO in the past ten years. This model has been validated for a large number of conditions using data from the literature and own expertise.

Applications

This device is patented, implemented in an operational prototype, and is now ready for commercialisation. Apart from the after market, this idea lends itself for dashboard integration and tour operator management applications.

Technical Summary

The unique TNO model is based on neuro-physiological knowledge of the human vestibular (equilibrium) system. This system plays a crucial role in the aetiology of motion sickness, given the fact that people without functioning organs of balance in the inner ear do not suffer from car sickness, sea sickness, air sickness, or whatever sickness induced by motion.