THE IOWA DRIVING SIMULATOR : A TOOL FOR HUMAN FACTORS AND VEHICLE VIRTUAL PROTOTYPING RESEARCH

Abstract

The Iowa Driving Simulator (IDS) is a six degree–of–freedom, hexapod configuration, ground vehicle simulator located at the Center for Computer–Aided Design (CCAD) at The University of Iowa. The simulator is designed for use in human factors and vehicle virtual prototyping research studies. Currently one of the most advanced ground vehicle simulators in the world, the IDS relies on high–fidelity simulation software and hardware. In the context of this work, high–fidelity is meant to imply: high–resolution, photo textured graphics, real–time multibody vehicle dynamics simulation, and appropriate sound, control loading and motion cues. The IDS incorporates all of these features in a flexible system capable of providing repeatable human factors experiments at a level of simulation detail which is useful for engineering design.