摘要: |
Implementation of interactive highway driving scenes that have most of the functional capacities provided by sophisticated simulation software packages by using virtual reality modeling language (VRML) is described. VRML is a relatively simple, cross-platform, file-interchange format for publishing three-dimensional web pages that can be interactively experienced in a browser over an intranet or the Internet. The use of OpenWorlds VRML script nodes to quickly encapsulate pre-existing simulation system software code to drive a VRML model in real time is also presented to demonstrate that existing simulation hardware systems can be readily integrated into VRML simulations. A related software package, HumanOpenWorlds, also enables the integration of anthropometrically correct human figure models into the VRML simulations for dynamic ergonomic analysis. Together these software tools deliver a comprehensive, cross-platform system capable of supporting human factors assessment of advanced driver interfaces over local or wide-area networks. These recent developments indicate that with adequate network bandwidth connections, real-time simulation scenes may be "driven" from remote locations controlled by signal input from mouselike devices or an instrumented driving buck. The proof-of-concept demonstration by the Advanced Driver Interface Design/Assessment Project described in this paper establishes the feasibility of producing cost-effective, flexible, and convincing simulations through which to assess human factors in complex operating environments using VRML. The applications should now be further developed and more thoroughly benchmarked against competing technologies. |