Citation

Hoffmann S, Buld S. VDI Berichte 2006; 2006(1960): 113-132.

Affiliation

Universitat Wurzburg.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, VDI Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In traffic-psychology a growing number of studies are carried out in driving simulators. The main advantages of driving simulation are that driving tasks can be standardised and data can be gained safely. However, due to the fact that a real environment can never be fully synthesised in a simulator, subjects have to deal with certain difficulties in the driving simulation. Thus, the driver has to compensate for the incomplete driving environment, delays and distortions in the graphics, and for having to act in two different worlds. Since this can't be realised immediately, the test subjects need a dry run to get used to the simulator and learn how the simulator works. A major problem within the dry runs is the so called "simulator sickness". Often test subjects have to stop and cancel the simulation because they get nauseous. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe and last a few minutes to several hours after the run. Another problem with respect to simulator sickness is that an inadequate driving behaviour might result, consciously or even unconsciously. In consequence, both the intern and the extern validity is limited and the acceptance of the method itself is likely to decrease. Experience shows that repeated exposure to the simulator situation usually reduces the physical discomfort. However, empirical studies concerning this adaption are very rare. Equally, details concerning dry runs are not consistently made in publications about driving simulation studies, and those that are made range from dry runs lasting five minutes to several hours. Commonly used guidelines do not exist. In summation, it is essential that subjects are allowed to habituate sufficiently to a simulator before the actual data is gathered. This is crucial to gain convincing research results. This article deals with a simulator training that was designed at the Center for Traffic Sciences (IZVW) and aims at the avoidance of simulator sickness and the familiarisation of the subjects with the situation and the difficulties which are associated with driving simulation. Driving in the simulator is practiced to enable the subject to handle the simulator vehicle without any troubles. The training programme consists of several different units: at first there is a familiarisation phase, followed by special exercises on breaking, accelerating, steering, driving on a motorway, turning at intersections and a final driving test. In this study we compared n=10 drivers who had taken part in the simulator training programme (training group) with a control group of n=10 drivers who had not. Instead, the control group performed the driving test repeatedly until they had spent the same time in the simulator as the training group. Thus, the control group did not get the slow accustoming and the special exercises of the training group. The results show that without the simulator training programme the average drop out rate due to nausea was quite high, whereas there was no drop out within the training group. Also, to be able to drive satisfactorily in a simulator an extensive training is necessary.

Language: de.