The IAD has a virtual reality (VR) laboratory with the latest VR hardware and software. VR offers a particularly valuable research environment in human factors research, as it creates realistic conditions and enables the simulation of scenarios that are difficult to access in the real world.
We are currently using VR at the IAD primarily for user studies in which test subjects are immersed in a virtual road traffic scenario using VR headsets and interact with automated vehicles from the perspective of pedestrians – scenarios that cannot yet be fully implemented in reality due to a lack of technology and limited vehicle interaction capabilities. VR also allows us to conduct experiments under controlled conditions in which we can specifically vary variables in order to investigate their influence on the perception, attitude and behavior of users. Compared to physical prototypes, VR offers the advantage that models can be developed and evaluated quickly and cost-effectively. For example, external human-machine interfaces of automated vehicles for communication with pedestrians can first be evaluated virtually before they are elaborately developed and integrated into real vehicles.
VR also offers a safe and realistic environment for training in dangerous or critical activities. Similarly, augmented reality (AR) or extended reality (XR) enables effective and practical training of employees in production by supplementing real work processes with digital overlays (e.g. work instructions or exploded drawings for maintenance and repair) in real time – an approach that can accelerate learning and reduce error rates and is therefore becoming increasingly important in human factors research.
At IAD, we use Unity as a development platform for virtual test environments, while Blender software is used to model the required 3D objects. We integrate questionnaires for evaluating interactions and user interfaces directly into virtual reality to ensure an undisturbed, immersive experience and focused participation by test subjects. Our VR glasses fulfill two essential requirements: Firstly, they have eye-tracking functions to precisely capture the user's gaze behavior when interacting with the technologies. Secondly, the VR headsets must have a high resolution so that the user interfaces, which are often the object of investigation and manipulated variable in the focus of the investigation, are clearly recognizable. We currently use the HTC Vive Pro Eye and Varjo Aero VR headsets. Supplementary accessories such as the Vive Tracker allow precise recording of movement behavior and create the basis for calculating quantitative data, such as the remaining distance between pedestrians and an approaching vehicle when crossing a road, which enables a detailed analysis of user behavior.
As IAD, we are a member of the VR community at Technical University of Darmstadt, which networks institutes that use virtual, augmented and/or extended reality in research and teaching. The regular exchange within the community is intended to provide new impulses for application possibilities and offer a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge.
If you would like to know whether our research environment is suitable for your application, you are welcome to contact us using the contact button on the right. Your enquiry will then be forwarded directly to our experts.
