How Driving Simulator Data Quality Can Be Improved

This paper examines problems commonly found in fixed-based driving simulators that have lead to imperfect replication of real driver behavior and performance, and solutions for those problems. Those problems include (1 and 2) the standard deviation of lane position is either too small or too large, (3) subjects drive all over the world, and (4) too fast, (5) subjects slow down too much of follow a lead vehicle from too far when distracted, (6) speeds are too steady, and (7) drivers take too long to respond to signs. Some of those problems occur because sometimes vehicles are too stable (time-to-time crossing values are too large) or, because there are no handling imperfections (e.g., mismatched tire pressures), road imperfections (e.g., potholes), or environmental imperfections (lateral or head/tailwinds)). Also worth considering is adjusting the feedback to the dirver (e.g., boost the steering wheel torque to compensate for the lack of motion cues and shaking the steering wheel when driving on a rough surface such as a shoulder or off-the-road) to encourage subject to drive on the road.