Driving Simulator with Assist and Resist Modes for Rehabilitation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving simulators are inadequate for providing targeted rehabilitation training for drivers with degraded capabilities due to aging or brain lesions, as they fail to effectively improve visual-motor coordination and physical-cognitive functions.
Innovation Solution
A driving simulator apparatus with a control unit that generates and compares operating waveforms for the steering wheel, acceleration pedal, and brake operations, and provides visual, auditory, or tactile events to enhance user reaction speed, along with mode selection options (normal, assist, and resist modes) to tailor training for improved visual-motor coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a typical driving simulator apparatus is used for rehabilitation training, then driving practice can be performed safely in a virtual environment, but it is difficult to concentrate on training methods for improving relatively weak functions such as visual-motor coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The driving simulator apparatus is enhanced with multiple training modes (assist mode, resist mode, normal mode) that can be selected based on the user's rehabilitation needs. The control unit generates different waveforms (target waveform, assist waveform, resist waveform) to provide diverse training functions within a single system, making it adaptable to various rehabilitation requirements while maintaining a unified device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The training process is divided into distinct phases and modes that can be independently selected and controlled. The control unit separates different training functions into distinct operational modes (assist mode for visual-motor coordination, resist mode for reaction speed, normal mode for general driving practice), allowing targeted rehabilitation training without requiring multiple separate systems
2Reliability
If multiple training modes and waveform comparisons are added to improve visual-motor coordination, then rehabilitation effectiveness is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously generates waveforms representing actual user operations and compares them with target waveforms in real-time. This feedback mechanism provides immediate performance evaluation to the user through the display unit, enabling continuous improvement of visual-motor coordination. The system automatically adjusts and provides guidance based on the comparison results, enhancing rehabilitation effectiveness through structured feedback loops
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes user inputs, generates appropriate waveforms, compares them with target waveforms, and provides feedback through the display unit. This intermediary function manages the complexity of multiple training modes and waveform comparisons by centralizing the control logic in a single unit, thereby enhancing rehabilitation effectiveness without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
3Measurement precision
If waveform generation and comparison functions are implemented to provide detailed feedback, then training precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical measurement and feedback mechanisms with electronic waveform generation and digital comparison processes. The control unit generates digital waveforms representing user operations and target performance, compares them computationally, and displays results electronically. This substitution of electronic/digital systems for mechanical ones achieves high measurement precision while avoiding the complexity of mechanical measurement devices
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided are a driving simulator apparatus and a driver rehabilitation training method using the apparatus, the apparatus including: a display unit for displaying a preset simulation driving screen; a mode selecting unit via which a normal mode, an assist mode, or a resist mode is selected by a user; and a control unit for controlling to apply a driving force in a rotational direction of a steering wheel operated by a user when the assist mode is selected and to apply a reaction in an opposite direction to the rotational direction of the steering wheel operated by the user when the resist mode is selected. Accordingly, a driver with a degraded driving capability due to the aging or brain lesions may have effective driving rehabilitation training. In particular, besides the normal mode, the assist mode and the resist mode are added to conduct target tracking training to thereby improve visual-motor coordination of the user, thereby recovering the driving capability of a patient, which has degraded due to physical and cognitive damages. In addition, by configuring a program according to a state of a patient who needs driving rehabilitation, a recovery state of the patient according to continuous practicing may be estimated by comparing the same with an initial state of the patient. Also, the patient's fun or interests may be aroused so as to allow the patient to concentrate on practicing.