Comparison of Computer-Generated and Simulated Motion Picture Displays in a Driving Simulation

An automotive driving simulator with a computer-generated display system, three axes of physical motion (roll, yaw, and lateral translation), sound, and vibration cues was used to investigate and compare human psychomotor response and vehicle response to different types of displays and motion cues. Subjects drove the simulator under four levels of displays; three being simulated preprogrammed motion picture displays (MPDS), one being the standard computer-generated display (CGDS). Motion and no-motion conditions were instituted at each display level. Each data run included lane-keeping and lane-changing tasks for various simulated highway conditions. During lane changes under MPDS conditions, both preprogrammed and nonpreprogrammed simulator conditions were examined. Seven dependent variables were used to measure performance. Results of the experiment show that one level of the simulated preprogrammed MPDS produced performance similar to that of a CGDS in all seven measures, whereas the other levels differed significantly. This suggests that using a properly instrumented preprogrammed MPDS will not compromise experimental results for certain research and educational experiments, and that in many cases an economical simulation using an MPDS would be adequate.