Page 23 - ATZ11 November 2019 Professional

Driving Simulator with VR Glasses for

Evaluation of New Interior Concepts

Experiencing cars of tomorrow already today – this intention is a key challenge in the development of
new interior concepts. Here, strategic and subjective decisions have to be made at a time when real proto-
types are not yet available. Volkswagen developed a dynamic driving simulator concept to evaluate variants
of the passenger compartment in the early development phase. The characteristics are defined by the
application of Virtual Reality (VR) glasses, the so-called head mounted display, as well as the use of a
flexible seat buck in combination with a motion system.

REQUIREMENTS FOR TEST-PERSON BEHAVIOR
DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
The mapping of a realistic test person
At Volkswagen, as with all other auto- behavior in the simulator is a challenge
mobile manufacturers, virtual interior for the generation of valid evaluation
evaluations are passed before concept results. Literature has shown that visual
decisions. The task of these assessments and vestibular cues are exceptionally
is to make certain variants of interior important for the driving task [1]. Many
concepts experience and make subjec- studies, especially in driving simula-
tive decisions easier long before the first tors, demonstrate that as a result of an
prototypes are built in real. Current eval- unbalanced relation of both stimuli,
uation contents are multi-domain ques- the human organism reacts fast with
tions, among other things, on visibility simulator sickness symptoms [2, 3].
and occlusions or rather variant compar- This leads to a reduction of the behav-
isons of concepts regarding mirrors, dis- ioral validity in comparison to a real
plays or control elements. driving situation [3]. In this regard,
Out of a wide range of evaluations, the first main goal for the usage of a
three main requirements arise for a development tool is the generation of
development tool which are reflected in high-quality visually induced stimuli
the following points: test-person behav- and also a corresponding good stimula-
ior, variability of vehicle components tion of the vestibular system. For a con-
and variability of the mock-up. sistent overall experience, high-quality
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