Development of a Unity–VISSIM Co-Simulation Platform to Study Interactive Driving Behavior

Abstract

This paper presents the system development of a co-simulation platform aimed at studying driving behavior with multiple participants. The objective of this study was to create an immersive and interactive environment where different driving scenarios could be simulated and driver behavior could be recorded and analyzed. The platform integrated the Unity game engine with the VISSIM microscopic traffic simulator to create a hybrid simulation environment that combined the advantages of both tools. A virtual reality massive multiplayer online (VRMMO) module was developed to capture the interactions of the participants during the simulation experiments. The external control devices of this co-simulation platform were calibrated using the empirical data of a Controller Area Network (CAN-BUS) from actual driving behaviors. The main contributions of this study are the demonstration of the Unity–VISSIM co-simulation platform in simulating interactive driver behavior and the potential for its use in various research areas, such as intelligent transportation systems, human factors, driving education, and traffic safety analyses. The platform could be a valuable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of collective intelligence countermeasures in improving traffic systems, with relatively lower costs and risks.

A Concept of a Plug-In Simulator for Increasing the Effectiveness of Rescue Operators When Using Hydrostatically Driven Manipulators

“…The plug-in simulator was created using the Unity game engine. The main reason for it was that it supports a robust physics engine, which is being used to calculate world interactions in real time [ 7 ]. Additionally, thanks to its target audience, it is relatively easy to develop HMIs for both the operator as well as the supervisor.…”

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Energy Modeling for Electric Vehicles Based on Real Driving Cycles: An Artificial Intelligence Approach for Microscale Analyses

“…PTV Vissim is a comprehensive traffic simulation software distinguished by its advanced microscopic traffic model [36]. Its uniqueness lies in its ability to accurately model individual vehicle behaviors, taking into account aspects such as lane changes, acceleration, and compliance with traffic signals [37,38]. This software allows for an accurate representation of complex traffic scenarios, which is crucial for planning and analyzing road infrastructure.…”

Driver-to-Driver Communication Skills: Contributing Factors to Traffic Accidents on South African Roads?

“…Hence, this study harnessed the capabilities of two software applications to realize the development of these scenarios. PTV Vissim, a microsimulation software designed for analysing smaller areas such as intersections, traffic signalization, and pedestrian crossings, served as the initial platform [23][24][25][26]. By inputting data such as the number of vehicles, speeds, vehicle structure, and acceleration/deceleration tables, this study evaluated various traffic solutions.…”

“…Blender, which is specifically designed for modelling, rigging, animation, simulation, and rendering, addressed the shortcomings of PTV Vissim. Unlike Vissim, Blender did not automatically generate traffic, providing the study with the necessary flexibility [26][27][28].…”