FKFS: Research in Motion: Virtual Vehicle Trials

Virtual Vehicle Trials

The virtual vehicle trial is increasingly supplementing real road testing in the development process. There are numerous applications for investigations concerning the interaction of a virtual vehicle and a real driver in a "driver-vehicle-environment" control loop. For example, control and assistance systems or automated vehicle functions can be tested safely and efficiently, extremely early on in the development process. Human beings, with their subjective perceptions, play a particularly important role. Questions regarding the acceptance of driver assistance systems and interaction with the driver can be answered by representative studies with more than 60 participants, for example.

Expert setups offer developers the chance to do application work for drivetrain and chassis components in a virtual environment. The driving experience in the Stuttgart driving simulator is so realistic that the vehicle can be tuned virtually. The driving simulator is also useful for subjective-objective correlation of the driving dynamics, since here it is possible to reproduce the driving situation exactly and vehicle variants can be implemented very quickly.

The Stuttgart Driving Simulator

With a diameter of 5.5 m, the dome of the Stuttgart driving simulator provides space for a vehicle mockup of an entire passenger car chassis. Mockups based on existing production vehicles or on non-driving prototypes can be used. Vehicles can be exchanged rapidly, thanks to standardized interfaces in the mockup for mechanical fixation in the dome, power supply and data transfer. The passenger compartment of the vehicle remains completely intact. The control elements of the vehicle function and are assigned different tasks depending on the topic being investigated. Restoring forces from the brakes and steering wheel are reproduced using permanent-magnet synchronous servomotors.

Video recording, eye tracking and position monitoring of the driver's seat are available to assess driver reactions. Simulated vehicle states or states of the assistance systems used are recorded simultaneously to these.

What we offer

Europe's largest driving simulator and experts in various specialist fields are available to you for your tests. We adapt our services to your individual requirements. We develop test scenarios tailored to your function and conduct statistically-conclusive volunteer studies – including questioning the participants in an interview or by using a questionnaire.

Thanks to its flexible design, the Stuttgart driving simulator is used in many different areas. The following list will give you an overview of potential application areas:

Highly-automated driving and driver assistance systems: investigation of the acceptance of vehicle functions by the driver, as well as testing critical scenarios in a safe environment.
Virtual applications: evaluation of vehicle concepts and variants, or at a component level. Design of drivetrain, chassis and aerodynamics components.
Driver behavior: investigations into driver interaction with a function of the vehicle, or with other road users.
User experience: the ability to experience future display, control and vehicle concepts.

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Gerd Baumann

Ph.: +49 711 685-68116

Please find more information here.

Traffic Simulation

In recent years at FKFS we have strengthened our expertise in traffic simulation so we can conduct vehicle trials – which would otherwise have to be performed on the road in a real traffic environment – early on via simulation. This enables costs to be minimized, since preliminary studies regarding specific questions can be carried out before conducting a volunteer study with real drivers. It is also possible to answer questions about vehicles which do not yet exist, or vehicles which do not yet have permission to be driven in a real traffic environment, e.g. autonomous vehicles. Here the main focus is interaction with other vehicles, i.e. the influence upon driving style due to other vehicles and the traffic infrastructure, for the vehicle under consideration.

The traffic simulation is coupled with a detailed drivetrain model for the ego vehicle. This provides comprehensive insight into events in the drivetrain of the vehicle being studied. If the modeling depth of the drivetrain model is sufficient, virtual vehicle testing can be conducted in this way in the early stages of development.

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Thomas Riemer

Ph.: +49 711 685-68131

Virtual Application

The high level of realism provided by the Stuttgart driving simulator permits virtual application of drivetrain and chassis components in the acceleration ranges which a normal driver would use, and which are extremely important for comfortable and harmonic tuning of the vehicle. Furthermore the influence of the tires, axes or the drive concept – or even the impact of the aerodynamics on driving behavior – can be "experienced" subjectively and optimized. Modifications (e.g. of axes), can be made based on characteristic values or on component parameters. In this way, the subjective driver experience can be evaluated and configured effectively and efficiently – both for normal driving and in the presence of disturbances; such as excitation due to the road surface or crosswinds.

Virtual Vehicle Adjustment — Virtual Tuning of High-speed Behavior

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Jens Neubeck

Tel.: +49 711 685-65701