Research Focus (Page under construction right now)
Transportation Safety
We study driver behavior, vulnerable road user safety, and human-vehicle automation interaction to enhance transportation safety. To date, our lab has secured over $1.25 million in funding to support transportation safety research initiatives.
Equipment: Driving and Bike Simulator, Motion Capture System, etc.
Selected Projects: Driver Fatigue Monitoring System, Stress Assessing App for Bicyclists, Environment Sensing App for Bicyclists, Child Pedestrian Training App
Extended Reality Applications
We specialize in developing extended reality (XR) applications and evaluating their impact across diverse populations, including students and workers. We have secured over $1.13 million in related research funding.
Equipment: VR/MR Headsets, Motion Capture System, etc.
Selected Projects: Enhancing Active Learning with VR, De-escalation Training, Future Grower Technologies
Engineering Education
We investigate how engineering education can be enhanced through innovative tools such as extended reality (XR) applications, physical prototypes, and experiential learning approaches. Our research in this area has been supported by over $1.4 million in external grant funding.
Equipment: VR/MR Headsets, physical prototypes.
Selected Projects: NSF IUSE, NSF ExLENT, MR for MoM (REU)
Human-Machine Systems
We collaborate with other UTA laboratories to study human-machine system interaction, leveraging these insights to inform the design of more effective and user-centered systems. To date, our work in this area has received $20,000 in grant funding, with several additional proposals currently under review.
Equipment: Robotic Arm (through collaboration), Exoskeleton (through collaboration).
Selected Projects: Evaluation of an Elbow Exoskeleton
Selected Publications: Elbow exoskeleton
Transportation Safety
We study driver behavior, vulnerable road user safety, and human-vehicle automation interaction to enhance transportation safety. To date, our lab has secured over $1.25 million in funding to support transportation safety research initiatives.
Equipment: Driving and Bike Simulator, Motion Capture System, etc.
Selected Projects:
Extended Reality Applications
We specialize in developing extended reality (XR) applications and evaluating their impact across diverse populations, including students and workers. We have secured over $1.13 million in related research funding.
Equipment: VR/MR Headsets, Motion Capture System, etc.
Selected Projects: Enhancing Active Learning with VR, De-escalation Training, Future Grower Technologies
Engineering Education
We investigate how engineering education can be enhanced through innovative tools such as extended reality (XR) applications, physical prototypes, and experiential learning approaches. Our research in this area has been supported by over $1.4 million in external grant funding.
Equipment: VR/MR Headsets, physical prototypes.
Selected Projects: NSF IUSE, NSF ExLENT, MR for MoM (REU)
Human-Machine Systems
We collaborate with other UTA laboratories to study human-machine system interaction, leveraging these insights to inform the design of more effective and user-centered systems. To date, our work in this area has received $20,000 in grant funding, with several additional proposals currently under review.
Equipment: Robotic Arm (through collaboration), Exoskeleton (through collaboration).
Selected Projects: Evaluation of an Elbow Exoskeleton
Selected Publications: Elbow exoskeleton
Research Projects
Enhancing Active Learning in Additive Manufacturing Using an Assisted Virtual Reality Approach
This research study has developed a virtual additive manufacturing lab in Unity. The lab included a selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer, the necessary workstation, a supply station for personal protective equipment, and a post-processing station. The study’s results informed researchers about students’ attention within a virtual 3D printing lab and their satisfaction after learning with virtual reality.
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Award #2202598
Team: Shuchisnigdha Deb (PI), Emma Yang (co-PI), Amanda Olsen (co-PI)
Selected Publications: VR in Manufacturing Education, Experiential learning through VR, Layout design for a VR training platform
Fort Worth Police Department De-Escalation Training – AI Character Conversation Demo
This research study has developed a virtual reality-based de-escalation training for police officers. The Fort Worth Police Department and the University of Texas at Arlington are collaborating on this project. The training tool consists of a Large-Language Model-based AI to replace the need for human role players needed for the training. The AI also provides instructional support by analyzing officers’ performances after their effort to resolve a crisis scenario during the training.
Sponsor: Department of Justice (DOJ), Award #15PBJA‑23‑GG‑06172‑NTCP
Team: Shuchisnigdha Deb (PI)
Selected Publications: Adaptive De-escalation Trainer [2]
Future Grower Technologies: Developing Virtual Reality Support Tools for Controlled Environment Agriculture Systems
This research study has developed a desktop simulation and a virtual reality-based training for controlled environment agriculture. Students used both versions and provided their perceptions on the usability, immersion, engagement, and learning experiences.
Sponsor: United States Department of Agriculture, Award #2019-69017-29928
Team: Shuchisnigdha Deb (PI)
Selected Publications: Student perception of traditional vs simulated learning, User interface for virtual reality-based training
Evaluation of an Elbow Exoskeleton to Reduce the Risk of Work-related Muscoskeletal Disorder
This project aimed to assess the use of an elbow exoskeleton to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in workers’ hands and arms. The exoskeleton, assessed in this project, a modular soft actuator-enabled elbow exoskeleton, was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI).
Sponsor: Interdisciplinary Research Program at UTA
Team: Mahmudur Rahman (PI), Muthu Wijesundara (co-PI)
Selected Publications: Evaluation of a pneumatically actuated soft wearable robotic elbow exoskeleton, Reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders Risk
Using mixed reality to Enhance Problem Visualization for Mechanics of Materials Course
This project aimed to enhance student learning experience and outcomes in a university-level Mechanics of Materials (MoM) course by integrating mixed reality (MR) technology and engineering toolkits.
Sponsor: Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (UTA COE)
Team: Mahmudur Rahman (PI), Rassel Raihan (co-PI)
Selected Publications: Innovation Day Poster, GitHub repository for the MR application
Driver Fatigue Monitoring System
This project classified driver fatigue during prolonged automated driving. The fatigue monitoring system integrates deep learning, computer vision, and machine learning techniques, leveraging postural and behavioral data from drivers.
Sponsor: Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions, and Dollars (CTEDD), Award #CTEDD 022-04
Team: Shuchisnigdha Deb (PI), Chen Kan (co-PI), Anurag Pande (co-PI), David A. Noyce (co-PI)
Selected Publications: Project Report, Research Gaps
Stress Assessesing App for Bicyclists
This project introduces CyclistAI, a novel smartphone-based cyclist stress assessment model that leverages context sensing. By combining Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) techniques, CyclistAI aims to provide real-time stress assessment for cyclists.
Sponsor: Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions, and Dollars (CTEDD), Award #CTEDD 022-03
Team: Ming Li (PI), Shuchisnigdha Deb (PI), Kari Watkins (co-PI), Christopher Le Dantec (co-PI)
Selected Publications: Project Report
Environment Sensing App for Bicyclists
This research developed and assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a Biker Assistance System (BAS) in different roadway contexts using a prototype mobile application. The application used smartphones’ onboard speakers and microphones to monitor potential hazards and help bicyclists avoid crashes by giving them alerts ahead of time.
Sponsor: Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions, and Dollars (CTEDD), Award #CTEDD 021-08
Team: Shuchisnigdha Deb (PI), Ming Li (co-PI), Kari Watkins (co-PI)
Selected Publications: Project Report, Smartphone-based assistive tool, Evaluation of warning signals for BAS
Child Pedestrian Training App
The proposed research took a data-driven safe systems approach inspired to develop engineering and educational safety countermeasures for areas near elementary schools serving disadvantaged populations in major metropolitan areas of FL, TX, and CA. The PIs will work closely with the stakeholders to incorporate engineering countermeasures by developing a virtual reality based child pedestrian training system.
Sponsor: Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions, and Dollars (CTEDD), Award #CTEDD 021-06
Team: Mouid Islam (PI), Shuchisnigdha Deb (co-PI), Anurag Pande (co-PI)
Selected Publications: Project Report, Data-driven roadmap for training program, Evaluation of training program