Lars Drugge

Lars Drugge conducts research in vehicle dynamics and the development of future road vehicles. The focus is on smart, safe and environmentally friendly transportation solutions for a sustainable society, where technological advancements such as electrification, automation, and active vehicle systems play a central role. The research includes innovative vehicle concepts with individually controlled steering, propulsion, suspension and braking for each wheel, and how these systems can be used to improve energy efficiency, comfort, performance and stability.

How we perceive and interact with vehicles is another area of interest, such as how steering feel and vehicle motions affect driver behaviour, both in conventional vehicles and in remote-controlled applications. To increase understanding, test vehicles as well as driving simulators are used to recreate realistic driving experiences.

Research is also being conducted on the development of advanced driving simulators and how autonomous vehicles can be made more comfortable to ride in. With a human-centred approach, the role of the vestibular system in motion perception is being studied, with the goal of creating improved motion algorithms for driving simulators and reducing motion sickness in autonomous vehicles through smarter control of vehicle motions.

Another area within Lars' research is how vehicles interact with their surroundings, focusing on crosswind stability, rolling resistance and tyre wear. Through collaborations with other researchers, interdisciplinary methods, advanced simulations and experiments are combined to deepen the understanding. The aim is to develop optimised vehicle characteristics that reduce sensitivity to crosswinds, lower energy consumption, and minimise wear.