Modeling & Simulation (M&S) is an effective mechanism for bridging the gap between experimentation and implementation; between basic theory, and real-world application. For example, in the field of engineering systems and dynamics, trainees can leverage M&S to experience vehicle control within a high-fidelity game-based environment to simulate the operation of a physical vehicle. Engineering insights gained through “active� learning with simulation are essential; as ground vehicle transportation continues towards fully self-driven vehicles, there remains numerous technological and human factors challenges yet to be overcome.
This paper discusses the experimental design of a game-based simulation environment implemented for a road vehicle dynamics (RVD) university-based engineering curriculum. The Simulation exercise is The (ISO 3888-2) Moose Test - an evasive vehicle maneuver, typically performed by on-road experts, to determine the thresholds of vehicle handling under aggressive driving conditions (e.g., swerving to dodge a moving obstacle). Our developmental basis is to provide a virtual-constructive Simulation environment for novice learners to: a) experience this maneuver under controlled conditions (e.g., two courses; three entry speeds; with or without electronic stability control), b) optimize performance (i.e., maintain vehicle control and remain path-centric), and c) obtain an improved understanding of vehicle stability that would not be feasible on an actual proving grounds.
Using both Simulator and self-report metrics, we will further observe if experimental performance correlates to tendencies relevant to driving and learning, which could inform the degree to which Simulation-based training is better suited towards certain categories of drivers. As critical Broader Impacts, this insight could advise how the operation of next-generation vehicles (i.e., mechanisms for operator intervention) can be tailored to individual differences (e.g., age, experience, aggressive tendencies) in specific driver types. Likewise, this M&S implementation has extensibility to military applications (e.g., pilots for aircraft) within transportation and human factors research.