WheelCon

WheelCon simulates human sensorimotor control tasks and enables manipulation of disturbances, delays, and quantization within layered feedback loops to study feedback control mechanisms.

Key Features:

• Hardware requirements: Uses a computer, standard display, and an inexpensive gaming steering wheel with a force-feedback motor to simulate realistic haptic interactions such as riding a mountain bike down a trail.
• Simulation flexibility: Allows explicit manipulation of disturbances, delays, and quantization (data rate) across high-level planning and low-level delayed reflex layers.
• Feedback model integration: Incorporates a basic feedback control model that is compared against experimental results from demonstration games.

Scientific Applications:

• Sensorimotor neuroscience research: Experimental manipulation of feedback loop parameters to investigate human sensorimotor control mechanisms.
• Control theory validation: Empirical testing and validation of feedback control theory predictions using simulated tasks and integrated feedback models.
• Study of layered feedback interactions: Examination of interactions between high-level planning layers and low-level delayed reflex layers under varied disturbances, delays, and quantization.

Methodology:

Simulates sensorimotor tasks on a computer with a force-feedback steering wheel while allowing adjustment of disturbances, delays, and signal quantization, and integrates a basic feedback control model compared to demo experimental results.