Queasiness in the Back Seat: A Problem for Self-Driving Cars

By: Ashley Wicks

Even in today’s vehicles, motion sickness can be a serious problem. Some feel dizzy when reading in a moving car, while others become nauseous just from sitting in the back seat. In self-driving cars, this issue becomes even larger, since everyone will be a passenger and thus more prone to sickness than a driver would be. And passengers will want to be productive on their rides, perhaps by getting work done without feeling sick. So, how do companies propose to counteract motion sickness for riders of autonomous vehicles?

Uber has led the way by working to develop technology for its self-driving cars that would stimulate riders’ senses and distract from the sickness-inducing movements of the vehicle. This technology includes vibrating seats, lights, and blowing air. Additionally, researchers at the University of Michigan have received a patent for their motion sickness countermeasure system, which includes both wearable and vehicle-based features to provide stimuli to riders that will prevent queasiness.

While there is still much work to be done to solve the motion-sickness problem, these emerging technologies offer promising solutions that could enable all people to ride comfortably in self-driving cars. If companies are to be successful in marketing their autonomous vehicles, they will have to ensure that their customers are not feeling queasy in the backseat.