Open house as VTI turns 20 years in Gothenburg

Enhanced driving simulators and the world’s first average-sized female crash test dummy were showcased as VTI celebrated 20 years in Gothenburg with an open house at Lindholmen.

To mark the anniversary of the Gothenburg office, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, opened its doors at Lindholmen, across from the newly built Karlatornet. During the half-day event, over 50 visitors were given a tour of several of VTI’s upgraded driving simulators.

The large driving simulator, SIM 4, has been updated with a new visual system, including new projectors and graphics computers. The upgrade enables new software solutions, such as the use of the Unreal Engine graphics engine, which provides more realistic and representative driving experiences.

A new mini simulator using XR technology (Mixed Reality) was also demonstrated in Gothenburg. In addition, the large SIM 3 simulator, located in Linköping and not on display during Thursday’s event, has also been equipped with a new visual system.

Examples of research studies conducted using these simulators over the years include the use of mobile phones, the surprise effect during sudden tyre blowouts, and the effectiveness of various driver warning systems. The simulators have also been used for research on worn windscreens, bus safety in winter conditions, and milled rumble strips in the middle of the road, to name a few examples.

“VTI was an early pioneer and has long been a leader with its driving simulators. With these upgrades, we are ensuring our continued leadership,” said research director Magnus Eek, adding that the simulators offer an open research environment for various parties.

VTI’s Director-General, Tomas Svensson, gave a brief retrospective on VTI’s 20 years in Gothenburg. It started on a small scale with 3-4 employees. In 2010, the operations moved to the current premises on Regnbågsgatan, and the following year SIM 4 was inaugurated. 2022 marked another milestone when the operations expanded to new premises on Götaverksgatan.

“There are several important reasons for VTI to be in Gothenburg. One is the proximity to the automotive industry and the opportunity to build relationships with local partners. Another is the ability to recruit the right expertise for our tasks,” summarised Tomas Svensson.

Also showcased during the anniversary celebration were the world’s first average-sized female crash test dummy – SET50F – and its male counterpart – SET50M. The crash test dummy, developed by Professor Astrid Linder, has garnered significant attention both nationally and internationally.