Systems Analysis of Driving Simulation

Abstract

System analysis procedures as applied to driving simulators must accomplish several bask tasks: (1) they must identify the system components and interactions that are to be simulated; (2) they must specify the degree of simulation of each component in the system. In this case, the extent to which the automobile and the environment are to be reproduced by the simulator must be adequately established; (3) the input and output to the simulator, plus the process of introducing variability and measuring the response to it, must be subjected to careful analysis; (4) finally, the simulation process requires that a major portion of any driver-related systems analysis be devoted to an examination of each component in the system, its input, functioning, and response characteristics. The basic components of the driving situation were analyzed from a systems point of view. In order to summarize some existing simulation attempts, the particular focus of each study with respect to the component or method of handling a component, was utilized. The driving simulation literature was reviewed to provide an integrated conceptual framework of the accomplishments of research in this field The basic component relations were explored and the primary functions of simulation were then analyzed. These primary functions were: (1) the introduction of experimental variation into the system; (2) the representation of the components of the system; (3) the measurement of component response; and (4) the measurement of system performance.