Predicting the driving simulator experience
About the thesis project
Driver behaviour is affected by several factors, including the driving scenario, participant demographics and the simulator itself. This makes it difficult to compare studies conducted in different simulators.
VTI's Vehicle Systems and Driving Simulation unit manages a large collection of simulators, including two large moving-base driving simulators, smaller static driving simulators, and simulators for trains and vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists).
The simulators can use screens, projectors or XR technology and can be connected for multi-actor simulations, for example to study interactions between drivers and pedestrians. This provides many options for designing a study.
How does the choice of simulator setup and study design impact the driving experience?
The aim is to predict simulator experience, such as perceived realism or sickness, and give advice on which simulator setup to use or how to modify a selected setup to improve a study.
The thesis work includes the following tasks:
- Literature and state of the art study
- Use historical simulator survey data complemented with vehicle and simulator dynamics data to find good predictors
- Develop and run a driving simulator study to evaluate predictive models
- Collect results in a report
- Educational background in the areas of vehicle dynamics engineering, computer engineering or a similar area
- Experience of programming and simulation (Python and C++)
- Ability to work independently and to take initiatives
Practical information
The thesis is available for one or two students and will be carried out at the Vehicle systems and Driving simulators unit at VTI, either at the Linköping or Gothenburg office.
Questions and application
For questions and application contact
Anders Andersson - anders.andersson@vti.se
Research on future vehicles and transport systems
At VTI's Vehicle Systems and Driving Simulation (FSK) unit, we study how future vehicles and transport systems can be developed, tested and evaluated.
We combine advanced simulation, experimental testing and systems analysis to investigate complex questions in safe and realistic environments.
This is where technology, people and transport systems come together – and as a Master's thesis student, you will have the opportunity to work closely with current research.