Multi-Modal Distributed Simulation Combining Cars, Bicyclists, and Pedestrians

16916192018PDFTech Reporthttp://safersim.nads-sc.uiowa.edu/final_reports/C2%20Y1%20UI%20report.pdf69A3551747131CyclistsDriversPedestriansDriving simulatorsDistributed simulationGaming enginesUnited StatesSafety Research Using Simulation (SAFER-SIM) University Transportation CenterKearney, Joseph K.Noyce, David A.Santiago-Chaparro, Kelvin R.Chakraborty, SoumyajitJiang, YuanyuanUniversity of IowaUniversity of Wisconsin--Madison. Dept. of Civil and Environmental EngineeringCalifornia State University, San MarcosSafety Research Using Simulation (SAFER-SIM) University Transportation CenterUS Transportation CollectionA collaborative project between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Iowa was conducted to understand the feasibility of conducting driving and pedestrian simulator experiments that involve multiple agents (humans) in the simulation. As part of the collaborative project, a distributed driving simulation environment was created that can be used to conduct driving simulation experiments with multiple human agents participating in the simulation as a pedestrian or as a driver. The distributed simulation environment was created using the Unity game engine. A pedestrian can participate in the experiment using a virtual reality headset, while the driver can participate using a regular computer connected to a screen and a steering wheel control system. The distributed nature of the environment, i.e., the ability to have subjects be part of the same experiment from geographically distant locations, is achieved by relying on the built-in networking functionality provided by the Unity game engine. As will be described in the report, the simulation environment was created by relying on the tools provided by the integrated development environment used by the Unity game engine and by creating supplemental modules created to support common tasks in driving simulation experiments.82