Fraudet Bastien, Leblong Emilie, Piette Patrice, Nicolas Benoit, Gouranton Valérie, Babel Marie, Devigne Louise, Pasteau François, Gallien Philippe
LAB Saint Hélier, Pôle MPR St Hélier, 54 rue St Hélier, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France.
INSA Rennes, CNRS, Inria, University of Rennes, Rennes, France.
J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2024 Apr 23;21(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s12984-024-01354-5.
The objective of this study was to evaluate users' driving performances with a Power Wheelchair (PWC) driving simulator in comparison to the same driving task in real conditions with a standard power wheelchair.
Three driving circuits of progressive difficulty levels (C1, C2, C3) that were elaborated to assess the driving performances with PWC in indoor situations, were used in this study. These circuits have been modeled in a 3D Virtual Environment to replicate the three driving task scenarios in Virtual Reality (VR). Users were asked to complete the three circuits with respect to two testing conditions during three successive sessions, i.e. in VR and on a real circuit (R). During each session, users completed the two conditions. Driving performances were evaluated using the number of collisions and time to complete the circuit. In addition, driving ability by Wheelchair Skill Test (WST) and mental load were assessed in both conditions. Cybersickness, user satisfaction and sense of presence were measured in VR. The conditions R and VR were randomized.
Thirty-one participants with neurological disorders and expert wheelchair drivers were included in the study. The driving performances between VR and R conditions were statistically different for the C3 circuit but were not statistically different for the two easiest circuits C1 and C2. The results of the WST was not statistically different in C1, C2 and C3. The mental load was higher in VR than in R condition. The general sense of presence was reported as acceptable (mean value of 4.6 out of 6) for all the participants, and the cybersickness was reported as acceptable (SSQ mean value of 4.25 on the three circuits in VR condition).
Driving performances were statistically different in the most complicated circuit C3 with an increased number of collisions in VR, but were not statistically different for the two easiest circuits C1 and C2 in R and VR conditions. In addition, there were no significant adverse effects such as cybersickness. The results show the value of the simulator for driving training applications. Still, the mental load was higher in VR than in R condition, thus mitigating the potential for use with people with cognitive disorders. Further studies should be conducted to assess the quality of skill transfer for novice drivers from the simulator to the real world. Trial registration Ethical approval n 2019-A001306-51 from Comité de Protection des Personnes Sud Mediterranée IV. Trial registered the 19/11/2019 on ClinicalTrials.gov in ID: NCT04171973.
本研究的目的是评估用户使用动力轮椅（PWC）驾驶模拟器时的驾驶表现，并与使用标准动力轮椅在实际条件下完成相同驾驶任务的情况进行比较。
本研究使用了三个难度逐渐增加的驾驶回路（C1、C2、C3），这些回路是为评估室内环境中PWC的驾驶表现而设计的。这些回路已在3D虚拟环境中建模，以在虚拟现实（VR）中复制三种驾驶任务场景。要求用户在三个连续的时段内，针对两种测试条件完成这三个回路，即在VR环境中和在实际回路上（R）。在每个时段，用户都要完成这两种条件。使用碰撞次数和完成回路的时间来评估驾驶表现。此外，在两种条件下都通过轮椅技能测试（WST）评估驾驶能力，并评估心理负荷。在VR环境中测量晕动症、用户满意度和临场感。R和VR条件是随机的。
31名患有神经系统疾病的参与者和专业轮椅使用者被纳入本研究。对于C3回路，VR和R条件下的驾驶表现存在统计学差异，但对于两个最简单的回路C1和C2则无统计学差异。在C1、C2和C3中，WST的结果无统计学差异。VR环境中的心理负荷高于R条件。所有参与者的总体临场感报告为可接受（平均分为6分中的4.6分），晕动症报告为可接受（VR条件下三个回路的SSQ平均值为4.25）。
在最复杂的回路C3中，驾驶表现存在统计学差异，VR环境中的碰撞次数增加，但对于两个最简单的回路C1和C2，R和VR条件下无统计学差异。此外，没有晕动症等明显的不良反应。结果显示了模拟器在驾驶训练应用中的价值。不过，VR环境中的心理负荷高于R条件，因此降低了与认知障碍患者一起使用的可能性。应进行进一步研究，以评估新手驾驶员从模拟器到现实世界的技能转移质量。试验注册 获得地中海南部第四地区保护人类委员会的伦理批准，批准号为2019-A001306-51。于2019年11月19日在ClinicalTrials.gov上注册，试验编号：NCT04171973。
