Vehicle in the Loop (VIL) – A new simulator set-up for testing Advanced Driving Assistance Systems

The Vehicle in the Loop test setup has been developed for the safe, reproducible and resources-saving test of driver assistance functions for support in critical traffic situations. This setup combines the advantages of driving simulators and a real test vehicle by incorporating it into a traffic simulation. While driving, the synthetic outside traffic is visualized to the driver realistically by means of an optical see through Head Mounted Display. Thanks to the Vehicle in the Loop test setup, motion sickness is avoided. With the help of sensor models, driver assistance functions can react to synthetic outside traffic already in an early phase of development, and the function can thus be tested realistically and without danger for humans and machine. DSC 2007 North America – Iowa City – September 2007