Virtual reality key to real-world car safety

Car makers are using video games to develop autonomous tech.

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Virtual reality video games – configured to present thousands of everyday driving scenarios – are helping car makers fast track development of autonomous vehicle technology.

The simulation technology is allowing manufacturers

such as Porsche to factor in various driving styles, environments, road conditions and decision-making processes to ensure the automated driving experience is relevant in different markets around the world.

The digitally reproduced environment, people and vehicles have the same characteristics as their real-world counterparts to provide meaningful input for the radar, lidar, camera and ultrasound systems which determine the automated response.

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Without virtual reality simulations, advanced automated technology may never be fitted in cars, with top US research organisation, Rand Corporation, observing it would take hundreds of billions of kilometres in real-world testing to achieve even slight improvements in driver assistance systems.  

In addition to saving time and money, testing in a simulated environment allows critical solutions taken from real road traffic scenarios to be reproduced, modified and refined as needed.

This enables engineers and technicians to train driver assistance systems to respond appropriately by playing out scenarios and outcomes in detail not possible on real roads.

Porsche will also use this simulation technology during the design process to save time and money on prototypes with plans also underfoot to use virtual reality to show customers a three-dimensional simulation of their purchase. 

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