correct gaps between vehicles at given speeds and
how to smoothly merge into a column of autono-
mous vehicles. There are control and safety challenges
to be investigated in the lab before we can test them
using real vehicles.”
Behind a black curtain, in the other half of the lab,
there is an actual car — a simulator — that lets this
team of engineering students and faculty access data
that would be nearly impossible to get otherwise. A
Smart car with a 180-degree projection screen show-
ing a wide variety of roadway scenarios provides the
primary focus, while another desktop driving station
allows the team to have two drivers interact within
the same digital roadway.
Simulators have traditionally been used for human
factors in the driving environment. With two drivers
in the same scenario, the team gathers data on the
interaction of manual and autonomous drivers in the
same space.
The lab continues research contributing to the safety
and efficiency of autonomous and manual driving.
The lab’s focus is in both areas because, for the fore-
seeable future, Eskandarian believes manual driving
will still have a place as the autonomous transition
continues.
“If you combine all the safety systems over the
last 20 years, you can see our technology has been
preparing us for autonomy,” Eskandarian said. “Lane
departure warnings, collision avoidance - all technol-
ogies that are required for autonomous vehicles. Our
automobile market has, in effect, been preparing us
for the transition to autonomous vehicles.”