Toyota’s driving simulator is one of the most ingenious engineering designs that I have come across lately. According to Toyota, this is the most advanced driving simulator in the world and after watching the video, I wouldn’t doubt this fact at all. It looks like straight out of science fiction and actually, I cannot wait to graduate and work on building machines like this one.
Here’s the video of how it works –
(I would really recommend watching it, but if you really don’t have the time, there is a description of how it works after the video)
The simulator houses an actual car on a platform inside of a 4.5 meters-tall and7.1 meter-wide dome. When the simulator is being operated, a 360 degree concave video screen projects computer-generated images of roads, landscape, street signs, and pedestrians (down to fine details!). The dome can tilt itself up to 25 degrees (and is also fitted with a vibrating system) and the whole platform moves itself in an x-y plane system. The combined motion of the dome and its platform lets the driver experience the real word effects of acceleration, speed, road vibrations, riding comfort and sound effects. For example, when a driver pushes on the brakes, the dome tilts forward to give the effect of stopping; when the driver turns the steering wheel to the right, the dome cocks to the right to give the feeling of turning. Toyota’s website says that the experience is so lifelike that users often need to be reminded that it is just a simulation.
What intrigued me most about this driving simulator was that it can actually replicate driving tests which are too difficult to conduct in the real world such as the effects of drowsiness, fatigue, inebriation, illness, and inattentiveness.
Because the conditions are simulated in a closely controlled environment, engineers can actually see what a driver is seeing by using technologies like ‘eye gaze measuring devices’. They can also measure maneuvers performed on the steering wheel, accelerator and brake in fine detail. In fact, the testing facility is so advanced it allows the collection of brain wave and heart rate data that can analyze a driver’s psychological and physiological state.
It’s quite surprising to know that so much is done just to ensure our safety. Apart from keeping our roads safe, I think this machine can have plenty of other uses. When I first saw this video, I was very tempted to drive in this simulator. This made me think that such machines could be used in amusement parks and gaming arcades. Apart from driving cars, this could be well modified to play other games (like the ones involving running around or flying planes). Even roller coasters could be replaced by this machine. This would provide the added advantage of being able to experience different roller coaster rides while sitting in the same place and would also make it a lot safer. Our experience of 3D movies could also be greatly enhanced using this kind of a machine (4D movies? sounds awesome to me!). I wonder if this is what the worlds future amusement parks would actually look like.
