Virtual prototyping and testing of in-vehicle interfaces

Electronic innovations that are slowly but surely changing the very nature of driving need to be tested before being introduced to the market. To meet this need a system for integrated virtual prototyping and testing has been developed. Functional virtual prototypes of various traffic systems, such as driver assistance, driver information, and multimedia systems can now be easily tested in a driving simulator by a rapid prototyping approach. The system has been applied in recent R&D projects.     

复杂产品虚拟样机技术研究

虚拟样机技术尤其是面向多领域支持复杂系统的协同虚拟样机仿真支撑平台的研究已成为研发的热点。通过对Agent技术和WEB服务技术以及虚拟样机仿真系统的长期研究,提出了一种面向多领域的复杂产品虚拟样机仿真支撑平台的实现方案,给出了该仿真支撑平台的基于Agent和WEB服务的系统结构和虚拟样机设计中涉及的机械,电子,控制,软件等领域的智能Agent的统一描述,讨论了虚拟样机仿真支撑系统中Agent间的通信方式并阐明了系统的工作流程和信息集成模式,为虚拟样机的进一步发展和应用奠定了基础。     

Multi-driver agent-based traffic simulation systems for evaluating the effects of advanced driver assistance systems on road traffic accidents

A recent investigation revealed that there is a substantiated need for the development of a micro-simulation system designed for traffic safety assessment. This paper describes the development of a road traffic simulation system, which uses a ‘nanoscopic model’ of driver behaviour and an integrated analysis-evaluation system designed for traffic safety assessment. The primary focus is on estimating the effects of an advanced driver assistance system thereby reducing traffic accidents. The effectiveness and validity of the present system are demonstrated through comparison with measured traffic data. This paper also proposes algorithms embedded in a ‘driver-agent’, for recognising driver’s intentions regarding choosing steering-control modes, lateral control tasks, and the driving mood. This is because the driver assistance systems need to recognise the driver’s intention when choosing steering-control. The results of a simulation study, using the data drawn from actual driving, show that the systems would achieve a high recognition capability. As an example of how driving mood recognition applies to driver assistance systems, an advanced steering system and the adaptability to the driver’s mood, have also been presented.     

基于TDI的网络虚拟磁盘驱动研究与实现

应个人网络存储应用的需要,研究和开发网络虚拟存储系统。实现这种系统的关键是开发网络虚拟磁盘驱动。通过介绍在Windows NT内核模式下设计虚拟磁盘驱动的详细原理,分析和研究网络虚拟磁盘驱动的设计与实现。开发过程中,调用TDI(Transport Driver Interface)函数,实现了网络虚拟磁盘驱动的网络功能。使用此方法开发虚拟存储系统,由于是基于Windows内核的开发,所以网络传输效率较高;另外,基于此技术的虚拟存储系统,没有改变用户的使用习惯,所以大大方便了用户的使用。     

Knowledge-Based Integration Between Virtual and Physical Prototyping for Identifying Behavioral Constraints of Embedded Real-Time Systems

Rapid prototyping methods are in need of autonomous decision making and analysis during the product development stages so that the ldquotime-to-marketrdquo can be reduced faster than traditional product development methodologies. Therefore, new methods of prototyping are inevitably essential. This paper proposes an approach to utilize the benefits of virtual prototyping (VP) and physical prototyping (PP) methodologies by integrating them into knowledge-based systems (KBSs) by providing seamless connection. This approach is termed autonomous integrated prototyping. The main contribution of this paper is the development of an intelligent system architecture to facilitate and guide the product development autonomously and simultaneously in both VP and PP environments. The seamless connection between VP and PP, along with KBSs, enables the exploration of new behaviors of developing systems and analyzing different behaviors. The architecture is applicable to embedded real-time systems (ERTSs), sensor applications, robotics, and ubiquitous applications where system interaction with the external environment is necessary.     

Handing over the Keys: A Qualitative Study of the Experience of Automation in Driving

ABSTRACT

This article presents a qualitative driving simulator study designed to understand the experience of giving up control to automated processes in semiautonomous driving systems. The study employed an experience prototyping methodology, with 12 drivers (4 female) completing 2 sessions in a high-fidelity driving simulator. Condition A simulated a normally functioning car, while Condition B simulated a semiautonomous system that monitors driver behavior and takes evasive action when danger is detected. The simulator experience was used to ground wider discussion of automation and the experience of driving, which was explored through a semistructured interview. Results identify design challenges for autonomous driving systems; the loss of user agency and confidence, and handling the change between manual and automated control. Opportunities were identified; in augmenting rather than removing human abilities, and in providing new learning opportunities for drivers.     

To support multidisciplinary communication in VR-based virtual prototyping of mechatronic systems

A typical mechatronic product includes mechanical parts, software techniques, electrical and electronic components. This interdisciplinary character significantly increases the complexity of mechatronic products. Therefore, inefficient communication between the engineers, who come from different domains, becomes one of the main challenges in the development of mechatronic systems. Although, innovations in the field of virtual prototyping can help the engineers to handle a complex system and then accelerate the development processes, the technique itself does not offer a solution to the problem of multidisciplinary communications. In this paper, we present a practical solution of supporting knowledge sharing and communication within a multidisciplinary developing group, whose members need to work cooperatively for doing virtual prototyping of mechatronic systems in VR environment.     

An integrated driver warning system for driver and pedestrian safety

A semi-integrated system for driver assistance and pedestrian safety is presented. This system is composed of a single camera which focuses on the driver for picking up visual cues and a stereo rig that focus on the road ahead for the detection of road obstructions and pedestrians. While the car is in motion, the driver's viewing direction is obtained and analyzed along with information of road condition and any moving vehicle ahead in order to determine if the current driving condition is safe. In addition, when the vehicle is moving slowly, the system can also detect the existence of a pedestrian ahead and warns the driver if the pedestrian moves in front of the car. This system contains algorithm-based safety analysis as well as fuzzy rules-based analysis for interaction between variables. Our experimental results show that the condition for driver safety can be accurately classified in 94.5% of the tested driving conditions, and the pedestrians can be identified in 93.18% of the tested cases. These were compared to the results of similar systems and shown to be superior.     

基于VR的驾驶仿真及安全教育系统开发

针对全国道路交通事故高发现状及传统驾驶安全教育方式单一、培训效果差的缺点,基于虚拟现实技术（VR）,在引发交通事故人为因素理论基础上,开发驾驶仿真及安全教育系统。系统基于Unity3D引擎,构建了基于道路实景数据的虚拟场景,并联合SUMO实现了道路交通流仿真,通过VR技术仿真驾驶环境及驾驶行为;基于碰撞检测原理,建立了关卡违规触发机制,编码自定义屏幕空间渲染方式模拟驾驶员视觉效果,并构建了基于图像的交通事故现场三维全景,从认知、感知层面培训驾驶员安全驾驶。实用性测试结果表明,系统实现了不同道路场景、气象条件与交通状况下的驾驶模拟及安全培训,增强了使用者的学习兴趣,提高了使用者驾驶安全素养,具有较强的实用性。     

拖拉机遥操作驾驶虚拟现实系统的设计

针对智能拖拉机在复杂多变、操控任务繁多的农业作业条件下难以实现全自主智能驾驶的不足,设计一种基于虚拟现实技术的拖拉机遥操作驾驶系统。首先,开发了虚拟现实主控端硬件系统,包括拖拉机驾驶模拟器及方向盘、挡位、油门、刹车、离合等机构的信号采集和检测电路;并基于VC++平台,结合OpenGL图形程序接口及3ds Max,构建以南京农业大学浦口校区为工作场景的拖拉机遥操作虚拟现实软件系统。实验表明,拖拉机遥操作驾驶虚拟现实系统简单稳定,易于操纵,具有良好的交互性和应用性。     

车辆系统集成化建模与换档规律特性仿真

将传动系统的虚拟样机模型与操纵控制系统的模型集成起来,实现对包括发动机、液力变矩直至行动系统在内的换档动态特性的仿真,建立换档规律、液压控制系统、动力传动系统及行动系统的集成化模型,并在虚拟样机及控制软件中实现多学科多软件的联合仿真,在对车辆的32 km/h加速性能的仿真试验中,得到相应的仿真时间以及相关动力传动系统的动态特性.     

Rapid prototyping and the human factors engineering process

Rapid prototyping or 'virtual prototyping' of human-machine interfaces offers the possibility of putting the human operator 'in the loop' without the effort and cost associated with conventional man-in-the-loop simulation. Advocates suggest that rapid prototyping is compatible with conventional systems development techniques. It is not clear, however, exactly how rapid prototyping could be used in relation to conventional human factors engineering analyses. Therefore, an investigation of the use of the VAPS virtual prototyping system was carried out in five organizations. The results show that a variety of task analysis approaches can be used to initiate rapid prototyping. Overall, it appears that rapid prototyping facilitates an iterative approach to the development of the human-machine interface, and that is most applicable to the early stages of systems development, rather than to detailed design.     

Distributed virtual reality: supporting remote collaboration invehicle design

Gathering a group of remotely located engineers to design a vehicle can be difficult, especially if they live in different countries. To overcome this obstacle, we-a team at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) in the US in partnership with Germany's National Research Center for Information Technology (GMD) developed a collaborative virtual prototyping system for Caterpillar. The Virtual Prototyping System (VPS) will let engineers in Belgium and the US work together on vehicle designs using distributed virtual reality. The system supports collaborative design review and interactive redesign. Integrated real-time video transmissions let engineers see other participants in a shared virtual environment at each remote site's viewpoint position and orientation. Any number of remotely located sites may join in the shared VE, communicating via multicast. The system has been tested with three sites at NCSA     

Virtual prototyping of mechanical systems with tool mediated haptic feedback

Haptic feedback usually involves two types of stimulation forces: forces that address the touch sense and forces that address the kinesthetic perception. Touch forces have a low intensity and a complex structure since they reflect contact phenomena where friction plays an important role. Therefore, they are quite difficult to simulate. Virtual prototyping with haptic feedback should ideally involve both types of forces, but the integration of the touch feeling makes the simulator very complex. In this paper, we present a novel concept for virtual prototyping in which the touch interaction is separated from the kinesthetic force feedback. This is possible using a prototype that has a real part undertaking the touch interaction and a virtual part that simulate feedback for the kinesthetic forces. In this way, a full haptic interaction with the virtual prototype is established by means of a device that provides a realistic simulation of the product. In order to illustrate the concept, several experiments have been carried out for the case of specific subsystems of a car, which are particularly involved in the driver–car interaction: steering system, clutch pedal and the gearshift. A user test is described in the last part as well as the conclusions of the research.     

Virtual Video Prototyping

Computing power is an integrated part of our physical environment, and since our physical environment is three-dimensional, the virtual studio technology, with its unique potential for visualizing digital 3D objects and environments along with physical objects, offers an obvious path to pursue in order to envision future usage scenarios in the domain of pervasive computing.We label the work method virtual video prototyping, which grew out of a number of information systems design techniques along with approaches to visualization in the field of architecture and set design.We present a collection of virtual video prototyping cases and use them as the platform for a discussion, which pinpoint advantages and disadvantages of working with virtual video prototyping as a tool for communication, experimentation and reflection in the design process. Based on more than ten cases we have made the observations that virtual video prototypes 1) are a powerful medium of communication in development teams and for communication with industry partners and potential investors, 2) support both testing and generating ideas 3) are particular suited for addressing spatial issues and new ways of interacting. In addition practical use of virtual video prototypes has indicated the need to take into account some critical issues including a) production resources, b) hand-on experience, and c) the seductive power of virtual video prototypes.     

虚拟驾驶环境中车辆智能体的驾驶行为模型

建立虚拟交通环境的多智能体结构,分析车辆智能体的驾驶行为分层模型以及感知、决策和操作等过程。采用模糊专家系统建立车辆智能体的驾驶行为模型。为模拟现实中的驾驶员行为特性,加入驾驶员因子,使驾驶模拟器的虚拟交通环境更符合现实。运用OpenGVS产生和显示实时交互的虚拟驾驶场景。结果表明该模型能体现实际驾驶行为的多样性、随机性和模糊性。该模型通用有效,它使驾驶模拟器的虚拟交通场景更真实满意。     

欠驱动步行机器人实时仿真系统设计

开发了异构多软件平台融合的机器人实时仿真系统。在欠驱动步行机器人动力学建模中引入虚拟样机技术,利用ADAMS软件生成动力学模型,利用MATLAB软件设计控制器,二者通过接口实现联合仿真;在开发人机界面及连接各个模块的接口中引入MATLAB和VC＋＋混合编程技术,完成对硬件的驱动控制及系统平台的操作。该仿真系统实现对欠驱动步行机器人进行理论步态仿真、控制方法的开发及实验研究,对实体机器人的控制调试、实时控制算法的设计。     

Binding Virtual Environments to Toolkit Capabilities

There are many toolkits and development environments that aid the process of constructing virtual environment applications. Many of these development environments encourage customising a virtual environment's design while rapid prototyping within the confines of a toolkit's capabilities. Thus the choice of the technology and its associated support has been made independent of the end-use requirements of the final system. This can bias a virtual environment's design by implementation based constraints. We propose that an alternative approach is the consideration of virtual environment requirements in the context of an inspectable design model, to identify the requirements that a toolkit will need to support. In the context of an example, we present a selection of design requirements that we consider important for virtual environment design in general. We explore how these requirements might be mapped to different capabilities using Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) as a concrete example of a platform technology.     

基于Windows的快速成形实时控制系统

分析了光固化快速成形机控制系统功能需求，设计了单机型快速成形机的控制系统，并且详细介绍了控制系统的总体结构及其特点。对于基于Windows的控制系统实时性进行了详细的论述，由于Windows系统在中断处理、线程调度和内核可被抢先等的特点，该文通过设计定时器的虚拟设备驱动程序和提高线程的优先级的方法，达到了控制系统的实时性能。     

Virtual prototyping of embedded microcontroller-based DSP systems

We propose a hardware-software codesign process based on a design methodology called virtual prototyping. With this process, we integrate VHDL models of hardware components with application, control and diagnostic software to rapidly prototype complex, multiboard, embedded microcontroller-based DSP systems. In the virtual prototyping of a demonstration avionics system, in collaboration with Lockheed Sanders, Hughes, and Motorola RASSP teams, we reduced hardware-software integration and system test times from the typical industry figure of 10-24 months to less than a month