Driving simulations for more safety and comfort

At the chair for motor vehicle engineering, scientists at the Technical University of Munich are collaborating with development engineers of the MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group to examine the interplay between the driver and vehicle on a highly modern driving simulator.
The aim is to test innovations in practice and to simulate driving situations to make driving even safer and more comfortable.

Can a test driver handle the operating elements well and intuitively? How does the driver react in the event of a dangerous road traffic situation?
What support is provided by driver assistance systems? - The experts of MAN and the Technical University in Munich faced up to these and other questions.

A specially developed driving simulator provides precise answers. The road traffic situation is simulated realistically.
If the test driver looks out of the cabin, he experiences motorways or road traffic in a town centre as very close to reality. Even the side window and the rearview mirror of the simulator show complex, realistic images that also take account of various weather conditions. The driver's cab is synchronised with the driving movements and the roar of the common rail diesel engine ensure a virtually real sense of driving.

During the simulation, the behaviour of the test subjects is observed by a number of cameras. Subsequently, an interview with the test subjects ensures that their personal impressions are included in the survey results.

Since the start-up in 2004, more than 300 test runs have been carried out. The first test project involved the multifunction steering wheel, which is already available in the MAN TGA. Another typical project is a new on-board computer.


Driving simulator	Test subject during a driving simulation