The Effectiveness of Tactile Intervention Sensors in Mitigating Fatigue of High-Speed Railway Drivers

Long monotonous driving tasks can induce driver fatigue, significantly reducing vigilance and threatening the safety of high-speed train operations. Despite the importance of addressing this issue, effective interventions to mitigate driver fatigue in the context of high-speed railway (HSR) systems remain a challenge. This study aims to examine the effects of three tactile intervention strategies [transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), thermal stimulation (TS), and vibration stimulation (VS)] on alleviating driver fatigue. A high-speed train simulator was used to conduct experiments with subjects. Each participant was required to complete four driving tasks: one without any intervention and three with each of the aforementioned tactile interventions when experiencing fatigue. Physiological metrics such as reaction time (RT), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electroencephalogram (EEG) were collected to assess driver vigilance. The results revealed that thermal and VSs effectively reduced RTs (TS =1.11 s, VS =1.09 s, no-intervention =1.12 s) and slowed down the fatigue process. Drivers exhibited higher vigilance levels during these interventions, as reflected in improved ECG and EEG features. For example, the high-frequency energy of the EEG signal increases during the stimulation compared to before the stimulation. However, TEAS did not show significant effects on fatigue reduction. This study contributes to the literature by providing evidences to support that appropriate tactile interventions, particularly thermal and VSs, can effectively mitigate driver fatigue and improve vigilance levels. These findings offer practical insights for enhancing the safety of HSR operations by minimizing risks associated with driver fatigue.