Developing Highway Driving Simulations Using Virtual Reality Modeling Language

Abstract

Implementation of interactive highway driving scenes that have most of the functional capacities provided by sophisticated simulation software packages by using virtual reality modeling language (VRML) is described. VRML is a relatively simple, cross-platform, file-interchange format for publishing three-dimensional web pages that can be interactively experienced in a browser over an intranet or the Internet. The use of OpenWorlds VRML script nodes to quickly encapsulate preexisting simulation system software code to drive a VRML model in real time is also presented to demonstrate that existing simulation hardware systems can be readily integrated into VRML simulations. A related software package, HumanOpenWorlds, also enables the integration of anthropometrically correct human figure models into the VRML simulations for dynamic ergonomic analysis. Together these software tools deliver a comprehensive, cross-platform system capable of supporting human factors assessment of advanced driver interfaces over local or wide-area networks. These recent developments indicate that with adequate network bandwidth connections, real-time simulation scenes may be “driven” from remote locations controlled by signal input from mouselike devices or an instrumented driving buck. The proof-of-concept demonstration by the Advanced Driver Interface Design/Assessment Project described in this paper establishes the feasibility of producing cost-effective, flexible, and convincing simulations through which to assess human factors in complex operating environments using VRML. The applications should now be further developed and more thoroughly benchmarked against competing technologies.