Simulator Monitor and Control (SMAC) System

With the reduction in cost of computers, and computer-generated imagery, the number of research driving simulators is rapidly increasing. Driving simulators used for research, such as vehicle design, safety and comfort, present additional challengescompared to typical training simulators. The simulator itself must frequently be modified to support the evaluation of in-vehicle hardware systems. In addition the routes that the driver in the simulator follows and the vehicles and events that theyencounter are dependent on the research being performed. Finally automotive research simulators typically have small research staffs to handle the development and performance of human factors research protocols and the related simulator modifications.Work during Phase I has demonstrated the feasibility of a simulator monitor and control system (SMAC) workstation that can give simulation centers a means to safely and effectively run laboratory based simulations in a cost-effective fashion. During PhaseII, the SMAC system will be implemented and tested in TACOM's simulator environment.Successful development and deployment of an SMAC system will reduce costs and increase agility of ground vehicle research simulation centers. Using the SMAC system, newvehicle designs can be rapidly integrated into the simulator and assessed using easily developed experimental and test protocols. With the growing number of ground vehicle research simulators in the automotive sector, there is a number of potentialcommercial customers.