Vehicle in the loop

Abstract

Modern driver assistance systems are designed to intervene actively during driving in order to avoid an imminent accident or to reduce potentially healththreatening consequences of an accident. Due to the severe risks that are associated with such interventions in critical situations, it is of paramount importance that these systems are evaluated thoroughly in the development stage, with methods that not only demonstrate technical functionality but also take into account the behavior of the driver as he/she interacts with the technology. With increasing complexity and criticality of the driving situation, in which an assistance system is supposed to intervene, it becomes increasingly difficult to test the interaction of system performance and driver behavior reliably and safely. The vehicle in the loop (VIL) combines a virtual visual simulation with the kinesthetic, vestibular, and auditory feedback of a real car. As such, the VIL offers a variety of new options for evaluating driver assistance systems. Thus, the VIL constitutes a viable alternative to established evaluation methods such as field studies and conventional simulators. The VIL was developed on the basis of empirical evaluations. The present article describes this development process and discusses its potential for future development.