An optimal washout filter based on genetic algorithm compensators for improving simulator driver perception

A simulator motion platform cannot exactly reproduce the longitudinal and rotational motions experienced in a real vehicle as it is constrained by its physical limits. The aim of this research is to provide an optimal Motion Cueing Algorithm (MCA) that can generate the most realistic motions and high fidelity vehicle accelerations and angular velocities, within the simulator’s physical limitations. The optimal washout filter based on Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), which takes the recent vestibular system mathematical model and simulator motion in to account, has been proposed to constrain the human perception error between the simulator and real driving, within the limits of the platform motion. This paper presents a new strategy based on optimal control theory and the Genetic Algorithm (GA) to reproduce a signal that can closely follow the reference signal and avoid false motion cues. An optimization method for adjusting the obtained optimal washout filter transfer functions, based on genetic algorithms is used. Three additional compensatory linear blocks are integrated into the LQR-based optimal washout filter, to be tuned based on GA in order to modify the performance of the filters and minimize the fitness value if increasing the order is required. This is achieved by taking a series of factors into account, including: the vestibular sensation error between real and simulated cases; the human threshold limiter in tilt coordination; the human sensation error fluctuation; and cross correlation coefficient; where the effects of these aspects have been previously ignored. The proposed optimized motion cueing algorithm based on compensators using GA is implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink software packages. The results show the superiority of the proposed method due to its better increased performance, enhanced motion fidelity, improved human sensation, and reduced workspace usage compared to previous optimal washout filters.