World's First Anti-Sickness Car Promises a Smoother Ride for Motion-Sensitive Drivers

If you’ve ever found yourself queasy on a winding country road, a new innovation from Boston-based startup ClearMotion might just be the solution you’ve been waiting for. The company claims its advanced suspension system can effectively eliminate motion sickness, a bold promise that was put to the test by MailOnline’s Wiliam Hunter at ClearMotion’s testing facility in Warwickshire.

Installed in the luxury NIO ET9 vehicle, ClearMotion’s suspension system acts like noise-cancelling headphones for the road. Using compact motors and a sophisticated onboard computer, the system dynamically adjusts the wheels to counteract road bumps, aiming to eliminate the swaying and shaking that often triggers motion sickness.

How ClearMotion’s Technology Works

Unlike traditional passive suspension systems, which rely on springs and gas to dampen motion, ClearMotion employs an ‘active’ suspension system. This approach uses external power to adjust the suspension in real-time. When the wheels encounter an obstacle, such as a speed bump, the system’s compact motors quickly adjust the wheels to prevent the movement from reaching the passengers.

ClearMotion CEO Christian Steinmann describes this as the ‘sky hook’ approach, where the car’s body remains level while the wheels move independently to follow the road’s contours. This active system allows drivers to customize their ride, opting for a sportier feel or maximum comfort, depending on their preference.

“The body stays perfectly level while the wheels pump up and down to follow the contours of the road,” explains Christian Steinmann.

The Driving Experience

During a test drive on various terrains, including winding back roads and a specially designed vehicle test track, the NIO ET9 equipped with ClearMotion’s suspension provided a remarkably smooth ride. Although initially expecting a maglev-like experience, Hunter noted some minor rumbles. However, turning off the active system revealed the stark difference, as the car began to lurch and bump like a ship on a stormy sea.

With the active suspension re-engaged, the ride returned to a cloud-like smoothness, highlighting the system’s effectiveness. Even on pothole-ridden roads, the car remained steady, allowing passengers to read or work without the usual discomfort associated with motion sickness.

Room for Improvement

Despite its impressive performance, ClearMotion’s system is not without limitations. According to Marco Giovanardi, ClearMotion’s Technical Fellow, the system’s reactive nature means it can only respond to road conditions as they occur. This limitation becomes apparent when encountering larger obstacles that exceed the system’s capacity to absorb.

“It is like a blind man feeling his way down the road. You can be quick to respond, but you’re always responding in the moment,” says Marco Giovanardi.

Introducing RoadMotion

To address these challenges, ClearMotion is developing RoadMotion, a software that combines GPS data with suspension information to create a detailed map of the road. This map allows the suspension system to anticipate road conditions, further enhancing the ride quality.

RoadMotion’s accuracy is impressive, capable of locating a car within one centimeter, even in GPS-compromised environments like tunnels. This proactive control allows the system to minimize motion more effectively by knowing what’s ahead.

“With this proactive control, you can isolate a lot more motion because, by knowing what’s coming, you can do the right thing all the time,” explains Giovanardi.

The Future of Motion-Free Driving

While ClearMotion’s technology currently offers significant improvements in ride comfort, the ultimate goal is to integrate it with autonomous vehicles. CEO Christian Steinmann envisions a future where cars can calculate acceleration, deceleration, and steering maneuvers autonomously, eliminating motion sickness entirely.

As self-driving technology advances, the combination of ClearMotion’s suspension system and autonomous control could redefine the driving experience, allowing passengers to work or relax without the discomfort of motion sickness.

ClearMotion’s suspension system is currently available only in the NIO ET9, but the company plans to introduce it to the British market by mid-2027. As the technology evolves, it holds the promise of transforming not just individual commutes but the broader landscape of automotive travel.