Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from PDF of title page (viewed Oct. 13, 2009). Additional advisors: Jerri D. Edwards, David L. Roth, David E. Vance, Virginia G. Wadley. Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-44).

Thesis (MTech (Industrial Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Simulators are used for many different purposes, among them physical rehabilitation and the training of differently abled learner-drivers. In South Africa, however, the extent of the latter type of simulators is limited to paraplegic learner-drivers only. The reason is that locally sourcing the necessary equipment to adapt commercial simulators for the training of differently abled learner-drivers presents a problem. The concept of Universal Design stipulates that as many individuals as possible should be able to use a particular product. Consequently, a simulator for differently abled learner-drivers should accommodate as many such persons as possible. However, applying Universal Design in the area of design researched for the present dissertation adds further complexity due to the unique nature of the physical limitations experienced by individuals. A differently abled driver puts an extreme constraint on the design of a product - and becomes a limiting user. Nevertheless, this dissertation adopts a Universal Design approach to investigate the possibility of designing such a simulator in South Africa, as well as its viability. A limiting user was included in the research to represent the bigger differently abled community. Field research was carried out by implementing a Participatory Design process. Furthermore, a team was selected according to a Meta-Design mind-set, including professionals from engineering, clinical psychology and occupational therapy. The leader and researcher was an industrial designer.

This project will address the increasing problem of violence on our nations roadways. This form of violence, termed road rage, is also occurring worldwide.

This study was conducted in an attempt to improve drowsiness detection in automobiles by examining velocity-related measures. These measures were also included in multiple regression-generated drowsiness detection algorithms to determine their contribution to detection accuracy. In addition, the effects of cruise control and an auditory secondary task on the level of drowsiness and driving performance were examined. Twelve volunteers from the Blacksburg, Virginia area were used as subjects. In the early morning hours after sleep deprivation, subjects drove a moving base automobile simulator, during which time physiological and performance measures were gathered. Data analysis revealed that velocity-related measures can be good indicators of drowsiness when subjects are without external stimulation, but otherwise, these measures are fairly weak indicators of drowsiness. Similarly, the addition of velocity-related measures to drowsiness detection algorithms proved to be quite modest. Finally, there was no significant main effect of either cruise control or secondary task on drowsiness or driving performance. / M.S.

An investigation was conducted to determine the effects of driving time on nine continuous measures of driver performance and alertness, and to determine the extent to which such variables could be used to predict driver performance degradations in driving emergencies. Subjects were required to respond to one of three types of driving emergencies presented after each had driven continuously for periods of 30, 60 or 150 minutes (determined by random group assignment). The general findings of continuous measures indicated that in driving periods of 60 minutes and longer: (a) drivers exhibited linear increases in a tendency to cause the vehicle to drift laterally (within the lane boundaries) and yaw over time; (b) drivers exhibited significant linear increases in the number of large steering reversals, and significant decreases in the number of small steering reversals over time; and (c) drivers exhibited significant increases in heart beat interval standard deviation and in body movement frequency over time. In all driving duration conditions, drivers exhibited significant degradations in their ability to respond to emergencies relative to their baseline driving performance levels. However, the amount of degradation did not differ among duration conditions. Correlational relationships of continuous and emergency performance data, possible methodological problems of previous investigations (in light of present findings), effects of steering gain on continuous and emergency performance, and suggestions of possible future investigations were discussed. / Ph. D.

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published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Thèse doctorat : Génie Mécanique. Biomécanique : Villeurbanne, INSA : 2004. / Thèse rédigée en anglais sauf le chapitre VIII. Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr. p. 247-254.