Immersive Vehicle Simulators for Prototyping, Training and Ergonomics

In most vehicle simulators, complete physical mockups equipped with steering wheel, gearshift and pedals are required. These devices are essential in trying to simulate real conditions, but as a drawback the system becomes expensive, huge (non mobile), and limited to reflect changes on the vehicle type, dimensions, or interior design. We have implemented different configurations for an immersive vehicle simulator, ranging from the use of a real mock-up equipped with force-feedback steering wheel, gearshift and pedals, to fully virtual control metaphors, which are based only on trackers and datagloves. We propose such fully virtual control metaphors as an alternative to minimize the use of physical devices in simulators. keywords. virtual reality, direct interaction, real time graphics, vehicle simulators.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: CGI
• Authors: Marcelo Kallmann, Patrick Lemoine, Daniel Thalmann, Frederic Cordier, Nadia Magnenat-Thalmann, Cecilia Ruspa, Silvia Quattrocolo
• Keywords: CGI 2003, Steering Wheel, Vehicle Simulators, Virtual Control Metaphors