Volvo is using a new ground-breaking mixed-reality simulator to make new strides in safety and autonomous driving technology.
A setup with a moving driving seat, a steering wheel with haptic feedback, and a crystal-clear virtual reality headset would make any serious gamer jealous, but Volvo Cars' simulator takes this concept to the next level, making it hard to tell reality from simulation. Which is exactly the point.
It combines life-like, high definition 3D graphics, an augmented reality headset, and a full-body Teslasuit that provides haptic feedback from a virtual world, while also monitoring bodily reactions.
This combination of software and hardware allows Volvo Cars engineers to endlessly simulate traffic scenarios on a real test track road while using a real car, all in total safety. Engineers can gain important insights on the interaction between people and the car for development of new safety, driver assistance and autonomous driving features.
Testers can be exposed to imagined active safety and driver assistance features, upcoming autonomous drive user interfaces, future car models and many other scenarios. It can be used on real test track roads or in the test lab, and every scenario is fully customisable. The possibilities are literally endless.
