Measuring acceleration perception with real-world, in-car data on a cable-robot simulator

How do we perceive accelerations in a driving car? How much difference in acceleration change can we discriminate? Answering these critical questions has important implications for car safety, user experience, and drive-train optimization. Previous studies have addressed acceleration perception either on limited simulator hardware or with less controllable in-car data. In the present work, we extend existing research by investigating just noticeable differences (JNDs) in acceleration at three different acceleration levels using real-world, in-car data rendered on a unique cable-robot simulator. Using this setup, which allows for simulating realistic acceleration profiles yet at the same time guarantees fully-controllable perceptual input, we are able to show that the JNDs depend on the underlying acceleration level, which is consistent with the so-called Weber’s law.