Rider Response Time in Motorcycle Riding

The perception response time of automobile drivers is very sensitive to the driver's mental and physical state. Measurements of response times through experimental set ups are extremely challenging especially for two wheeler riders. In this paper, the motorcycle rider perception response time is estimated in close to realistic driving situations using an experimental set up. The setup consists of a stationary control unit, giving different visual stimuli to the rider at randomly varying time while riding the motorcycle on a test track. The rider responds and controls the motorcycle as per the visual stimuli. The visual stimuli and actuation time are chosen such a way that this experimental setup and procedure represent the scenario of accident avoidance. The state parameters like speed of the vehicle, steering torque and steering angle are used to estimate the perception response time. The results indicate a more precise band of values within the generic band available in literature. In addition, it is observed that the rider skill and type of maneuver effect the perception response time. The estimated perception response time using this method is one of the critical input for the design of decision logics and controls of safety systems.