Development log

Introduction

This application is VR Driving Simulator where people can experience driving a car in a virtual environment.  The purpose of the application is to drive simulation where people can experience different types of highways roads, and road regulations and experience cars in extreme environments without the risk. It is helpful for disability people, under-age people, and car learners who are getting driver knowledge tests.  

Description of the application

The application that is designed for this assignment is a car driving simulator that enables users to drive the car using a VR headset. It allows users to imitate the real-world environment while driving the car in the application. An interface interaction is required to overcome the current traditional interface that our computers use. To get the best out of the application the UI of the application and the interaction that is used in this application are realistic.

 Scene

This application has a scene that is basically an environment of road/highway based on real-life scenarios. Here users can choose between which road to go with and which lane to choose while driving.

What does the application do?

It basically allows users to experience what it feels like to drive a car in a real-world environment. It imitates real-world experience for the user so that the user who has not driven a car can have the gist of driving a car in the real world without being into any trouble or pressure.

The outcome of the simulation of driving demonstrates that an individual's driving behavior and characteristics, such as adhering to the posted speed limit, remaining composed and relaxed while operating a motor vehicle, driving at appropriate speeds depending on changes in road structures, etc., can influence their performance in a simulated environment (Taheri, Matsushita and Sasaki, 2017).

Significance of application in the context of the chosen scenario

Applicable for a new driver

The new driver driving car makes a lot of mistakes on the roads which may cause serious issues in real-life scenarios which may increase accident possibilities. The safe and practical way to get started is to drive virtually gaining experience of how it feels to be on the road.

People tend to lose their confidence on roads

Usually, people lack confidence when it comes to real-life driving scenarios as it is a most common thing that the majority of people tend to lose confidence when they take the car on the road for the first time. So, to overcome this problem this application based on virtual reality will help people to get familiar with somewhat driving.

The visual experience of the normal simulator is not enough

Usually, simulators or games that are designed to simulate the driving experience in normal games do not provide realism with the environment and interaction. This application which is developed will provide the user with the utmost real experience as it is based on virtual reality and works with a VR headset.

Description of the interface solution

Driving simulators offers a wide range of experiences such as virtual traffic, weather conditions, and the road and, interactions in the environments. The user must be able to simulate this environment in any physical location. Some of the requirements of the driving simulations, selections of suitable technologies, and, the significance of the technology are listed  below: 

Software application feature requirements for the driving simulator 

Virtual reality is significant to my application because my driving simulation has certain software application feature requirements.  In the driving, simulation user needs to feel as if he/she is driving the car in real life. Driving a simulator requires the environment with scenes and objects that appear to be real, making the user feel they are immersed in their surroundings. Another requirement is the user needs to interact with the environments such as people, animals, and, other cars as similar to real environments.  Driving simulation needs collide functions, a warning message for dangerous driving, and night and daytime experiences on the roads.

Driving simulator hardware requirements

For the driving simulator, we need headsets to feel the environment and sound. We need head and hand tracking sensors for movement detection and looking around the environment. We need controllers with motion sensors.

usability features/ user experience/ intuitive requirements of the application  

The driving simulator needs to offer users to move around the vehicle inside the environment. User needs to experience different types of environment and road types. Simulators allow for close control of traffic events, which is not possible in studies done while driving in real life. User needs to feel like driving in the real environment and accidents must feel similar to the actual world. 

suitable interface technology and its strengths 

According to the interface requirements and a lot of the features required, I have chosen Virtual reality as my project interface technology. There are many functions of virtual reality that make me choose this technology. A lens mounted on a headset will receive the output of VR hardware and software that helps generate or create computer-generated 3D images and video. The user is visually immersed in the content they are viewing because the headset is fastened to their head over their eyes. The person viewing the content can use hand controllers, such as gloves, or their gaze to make selections and browse through the 3D content. The controllers and gaze control will assist in tracking the user's movement while also placing the simulated images and videos in the display in the right places to cause a change in perception. Because the headset has head motion or tracking sensors by either tracking the eye or head, you can simulate these motions inside of VR by moving your head to look left, right, up, and down. To enhance the immersion experience, sensors on controllers can also be used to gather information about the body's response to simulate and relay it back to the VR system.

significance of virtual reality in the context of the application

In the context of my driving simulator application, virtual reality plays a vital role in providing an immersive experience. One of the key components of virtual reality is the simulation of physical presence in both the real and virtual worlds. The gaming industry has advanced through technology.  I preferred virtual reality for my application because of certain requirements of my driving simulator application. Virtual reality supports all the hardware requirements for my applications. Through virtual reality, users can feel the environment while driving the vehicle. 

Interaction Design

Interactive virtual car allows a person who is not physically fit or a differently abled  person to be able to ride a car and have the experience of driving a car and experiencing real life experience. There is no limitations to how you use the car as it goes any direction that is needed and no limits to the speed that you can go.

Users can select the car types and also change the colour of the car using a virtual button that is in-built in the system which allows people who are differently abled or give sensation of driving to a person when there is a pandemic such as covid-19 where people are not allowed to come out, matching the colour that is selected by the user when they press the virtual button on the screen, with changing of the car they can also be able to choose the race track that they want to drive on. They will have complete freedom of using the car as all the functions of a normal car would be possessed by the virtual car including the horn, drive left, right, front, back, etc which would then give a person freedom to be able to drive wherever they want and be able to do anything including colliding with a pedestrian or an animal.

The reason that a VR headset is needed is that it can easily allow actions like looking at the front, back, etc movements like these are limited and cannot be done through AR. it also makes the user feel more immersed and make it feel much more real. Driving a car and making it move and do a series of sound from a horn to the screeching of the tyres is an action that can be a real situation that the user can find themselves in which cannot be achieved by the AR.

Storyboard showing the button and idea for colour change through virtual button and normal function of the car.

Initial technical Development

This application uses virtual reality technology, it is made in the unity 3D software applications and, it is tested and run in the Oculus Quest 1 headset. We used C# programming language to create the scripts of the 3D models. We need to use thumb sticks to operate the vehicle and move around. 

To participate in the available interaction inside the environments users need to use thumb sticks, and they will drive the car, they can press the brakes if he feels the speed is too much to control. If the user misses the lane, the user will fall from the road. 

Information about the technical development that is initially developed

For my initial look at the driving simulator, I used the environments with the roads and scenes. There are multiple roads in the environment. I have used a 3D model of the car where the user can sit inside the car and drive the car in the environment. If you want to drive smoothly, you need to drive carefully in the car, because if you fell down the road it is hard to get back. 

Even this initial development of the driving simulator is fully functional, and we run in the  Oculus Quest. It is run and tested several times to figure out the technical mistakes and bugs. In this initial developed application, users can feel the environment and hear the noise of the vehicle when operated. 

Information about the technical development that is planned developed

After initially developing, we planned to add more features to the application to make the driving simulator more realistic. We are planning to add more 3D models like humans and animals crossing the road. If you collide with these 3D models, we are planning to script the accident in the virtual world. We are planning to add more traffic signs, and we want to add virtual buttons for the horn of the car. We are planning to add environments with different weather conditions each time and difficulty accordingly. We will add a warning message on the screen for overspeeding the limit on the roads. 

Initial 3D Models

For our driving simulator applications, we have fewer 3D models now with the environment but we are planning to add more 3D models to make this application more realistic. 

The 3D models include cars, animals, humans, and all the traffic signs to make this application realistic like the real environment. Traffic signs are suitable 3D models because it specifies the traffic rules as usual in the real environment. Humans and animals crossing the road bring more interactions in the application, so this 3D model is also imported into our application. 

Initial 3D models 

Car

As an initial 3D model we have the car inside our virtual applications. It is very important in the driving simulator. It is used to move around the environment where the user is inside and control the vehicle. 

Indicative 3D models

Stop sign

We planning to add a stop sign in the roads as a 3D model which make applications much more realistic. Inside the application, if we add more features like this it makes the application very interesting. It also teaches some real road rules to the users. 

Speed Limit Sign

The driving simulator also tries to help people responsible driving, so the speed limit is important in the driving simulator application as a3D model. 

People walking Sign

This 3D model indicates that people are walking on the road and the driver needs to be careful.

No crossing sign

This 3D model is used to inform users no roads are ahead. 

Animal 

The animal is used as a 3D model to place randomly on the roads. Drivers need to avoid these animals for not to collide on the roads. 

Human

Human 3D models are used to place humans on the roads. Human is crossing the road and users need to be aware of the situation. 

Conclusion 

Our application is designed to teach/give real driving simulation to users ranging from new drivers to person losing confidence in roads to people who are not able to drive in real life. We are using VR because it is easier to place a real looking dummy and car which is able to be driven and give real driving simulation to user in a easier and efficient and a safe way where there are no accidents even if the person crashes on the headset.

References

- Advantages and disadvantages of driving simulators: A discussion (no date). Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281593035_Advantages_and_Disadvantages_... (Accessed: October 9, 2022). 

- Taheri, S.M., Matsushita, K. and Sasaki, M. (1970) [PDF] Development of a driving simulator with analyzing driver's characteristics based on a virtual reality head mounted display: Semantic scholar, undefined. Available at: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Development-of-a-Driving-Simulator-with-An... (Accessed: October 9, 2022). 

- Mountain Race Track - Night: 3D roadways (2018) Unity Asset Store. AndreiNi. Available at: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/roadways/mountain-race-tra... (Accessed: October 9, 2022). 

- Realistic car kit: Physics (2016) Unity Asset Store. Mehdi Rabiee. Available at: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/tools/physics/realistic-car-kit-18421 (Accessed: October 9, 2022). 

- Taheri, S., Matsushita, K. and Sasaki, M., 2017. Virtual Reality Driving Simulation for Measuring Driver Behavior and Characteristics. Journal of Transportation Technologies, [online] 07(02), pp.123-132. Available at:https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=75365(Accessed 8 October 2022). <https: www.scirp.org="" journal="" paperinformation.aspx?paperid="75365"></https:>

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