New Driving Simulator for Human-Vehicle Interface Research Now Operational

Over the summer months the driving simulator at the Volkwagen Automoitve Innovation Lab (VAIL), was replaced with a completely new system. The new driving simulator, which is co-funded by CARS, Revs, and Toyota, offers state-of-the-art technology which Prof. Cliff Nass, along with students and researchers from across Stanford, will use to study a wide range of issues in the psychology and design of driving. The simulator is one of few that allow a driver to switch from full or partial autonomy to manual driving and back at any time. It is also the first simulator to automatically synchronize EEG, EKG, respiration, and skin conductance with driving behavior, allowing new answers to questions about distraction and the ability of cars to take over based on the driver's mental and physical state.

Although the simulator is extremely sophisticated with a full Toyota Avalon compartment; a high resolution, 240-degree screen with rear projection to enable the rear view mirror to work; full eye-tracking and a physiology suite; and the ability to create different dynamic models using Javascript, it can be programmed by a Stanford undergraduate without specialized training. Using this system, researchers are able to capture every aspect of the car and driver to inform design, psychology, engineering, and a whole host of other possibilities.

The initial studies in the simulator will focus on the transition from automated to manual driving, creating models of distraction for the 21st century, and using cars to teach drivers about more eco-friendly and safer driving. Using the wrap-around screen for performance art is another novel idea to get us to play with cars. The goal of the research is a deeper understanding of our interaction with the automobile and to inform safety and entertainment systems for new cars.

By Sven Beiker