Simultaneous real-time assessment of sportive pilots' stress and performance related to vehicle behavior, during racing with the DIM professional simulator. (14th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brisinda, D; Savorgnan, C; Affanni, A; Minen, M; Minen, D; Fenici, R
• Is Part Of: European heart journal. Volume 42(2021)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2021-10-14
• Subjects: Pre-Competition Screening and Sports Eligibility; Cardiology -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.12005
• DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.2719
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-668X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Sports motoring and racing imply high physical and psychological stress, during pre-competition phases and the competition itself. Therefore, there is growing interest of racing teams for new technologies providing real-time monitoring of psychophysiological reactions of pilots to highly-demanding driving and vehicle dynamics, to improve personalized training, while reducing human risks and costs. Professional Driving Simulators (PDS) are ideal to assess in real-time vehicle dynamics under any kind of programmable virtual driving conditions, but a direct connection with the driver's physiology is still limited. A novel wearable system and software have been developed, providing simultaneous assessment of pilot's stress reactions, by real-time calculation and monitoring of time-variant heart rate variability (TV-HRV) spectral parameters (SP) and of skin potential response (SPR), in correlation with vehicle's dynamics. Purpose: This study aimed to demonstrate the reliability of the method in detecting the pilot's stress induced by different driving demands. Methods: 10 volunteers (age 26±2.3 years) were enrolled to pilot a racing car under realistic conditions simulated by the DIM® PDS (Vi-grade). The study protocol consisted of 5-minutes baseline rest, sitting in the cockpit; 5-minutes driving along a straight highway without obstacles; 6-minutes of medium-stress slalom between cones, avoiding collision; 8-minutes racing 4 laps on a race track, at maximum possible speed, but avoiding crashes. ECG and SPR signals were acquired (1 Khz sample rate), with the Vi-BioBox connected to textile wearable sensors. A proprietary software was developed to analyze and stream the TV-HRV and SPR data in real-time to WINTAX4 data logging software for automotive racing industry. Real-time assessment of the pilot's stress was based on the integration of transient changes of HRV-SP and of the Root Mean Square value of two SPR signals (SPRRMS). To validate the accuracy of the real-time HRV analysis, all data were analyzed also off-line with Kubios Premium 3.4.1. software. Results: The Vi-BioBox signals were adequate for real-time calculation and monitoring of transient variations of HRV-SP. A good correlation was found between transient stress-induced increment of pilots' SPRRMS values and the occurrence of driving errors (pink-red spots automatically transferred onto the race track – Figure 1). A good match was found between the real-time HRV values calculated by the VI-BioSoft and their off-line calculation with Kubios (v. 3.4.1 Premium). Two pilots, suffering simulator sickness, had prodromal alteration of cardiac autonomic modulation. Conclusion: The integration of a Vi-grade PDS with the novel system for real-time calculation and telemetric monitoring of time-variant HRV and SPRRMS provides immediate information about pilot's autonomic response to driving demands and emotional reaction to vehicle's dysfunction, driving errors and bad performance. FUNDunding Acknowledgement: Type of funding sources: None.