Project description
Driving communication through touch
The driving experience is changing as vehicles transition from manual to semi-autonomous control. However, beeping noises and flashing lights are still the main methods of communication with drivers, which causes cognitive overload. In this context, the ERC-funded Pneu-Haptics project uses haptic cues driven by pneumatics and installed in seats to activate the body’s innate intelligence. It can adjust posture changes from relaxed to alert by gently shifting support beneath the driver’s back, enabling them to regain control naturally. This creative method seeks to increase safety while also making the experience less disruptive. The project will influence how drivers and cars communicate through touch by creating a functional demonstrator.
Objective
There is an on-going societal shift from manual vehicles to semi-autonomous vehicles, which will fundamentally alter the practical, emotional and somatic experience of driving cars, trucks, trains, and even tractors. At the same time, innovations in strategies for communicating with the driver have not advanced beyond the utilization of visual and audio modalities. As the driving experience becomes more complex this has led to an overwhelming cognitive experience consisting of excessive blinking and beeping. Pneu-Haptics is a new approach to this problem of communication with the driver. Making use of pneumatically powered haptic cues embedded within the seat, Pneu-Haptics utilises the intelligence that resides in our bodies by touching and gently moving larger body parts in ways which can somatically and intuitively create conditions for action or emotion. For example, by dynamically changing the support of a driver’s back area, the driver’s posture can be altered from a slouched and more relaxed position to an erect and alert postural state that readies the driver for taking back control of the vehicle. This ERC PoC project will evaluate whether such an approach can improve the passive safety of the driver by moving beyond approaches which rely on pure symbolic meaning and cognitive reasoning. While at the same time make the driving a smoother and non-disruptive experience. The goal of the Pneu-Haptics PoC project is to demonstrate the effectiveness and value of Pneu-Haptics as a new modality for enabling communication and collaboration between a driver and a vehicle in a way which is a dignified aesthetic experience. Together the research team will produce a robust demonstrator for testing and demonstrating to Pneu-Haptics to relevant industries, establish a ‘killer’ app and industry for Pneu-Haptics and develop a business plan for bringing Pneu-Haptics to market.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
100 44 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.