SimArch
The SimArch project aims at creating a generic communication architecture for experiment systems where driving simulators are an integrated part. With this interface for communication, the intention is to allow verification of vehicle electronics against human drivers with a limited effort and at all stages of development. The objective is achieved through two main goals. The first is the creation of defined interfaces between components in the experiment system. The other is the construction of a SimArch environment simulator for interconnection of several driving simulators.
Introduction
Concept validation and early verification is desirable in the development of automotive electronics. Experiment systems for virtual and physical real components in development provide one method to achieve early verification. With improvements in experiment setups test cases become increasingly realistic. By allowing the connection of a driving simulator to the experiment system, the electronic component may be verified with a human driver in the simulation loop.
During a study of today’s experiment systems for vehicle electronics we found that support for simulations with human drivers was limited. Typically, driving simulator experiments are focused on human behaviour and use coarse models of vehicle electronics. Experiment systems for electronics on the other hand lack a realistic interface to the driver. The study also found that new tools for testing prototypes of vehicle electronics with human interaction in driving simulators are welcomed by both industry and academia.
The figure below shows a schematic illustration of the components of the SimArch architecture. The interfaces between the components are specified in detail to provide compatibility. By implementing the architecture, simulators at different companies can communicate and interact with each other. Another important feature of the architecture is that it allows scalability of components. As long as a component provides the necessary interfaces there are no restrictions.
Project partners
- Saab Automobile
- Volvo 3P
- Volvo Technology
- Volvo Car Corporation
- VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute
- Chalmers University of Technology, dept. of Computer Science and Engineering
- Chalmers University of Technology, dept. of Signals and Systems
- SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden