9413858 Freeman This award provides funding for acquisition of a real-time multiprocessor host computer system for the Iowa Driving Simulator (IDS) at the University of Iowa. The addition of the new host computer system will create a unique facility to support research ranging from development of new engineering design and analysis methodologies to the study of basic human factors problems. The IDS is a fully-immersive ground vehicle driving simulator that provides high fidelity visual, motion, audio, and force feedback cues to the driver. The new host computer will enhance IDS performance in the areas of high-fidelity vehicle modeling and realistic representation of the external driving environment. The additional modeling fidelity will allow experimentation with advanced operator--in-the-loop virtual prototyping concepts for vehicle and heavy equipment design, and will provide a rich environment for the study of human behavior and performance issues. The upgraded facility will support the research and academic programs of ten faculty, approximately seventy-five graduate students, and a dozen undergraduate from four engineering disciplines, computer science, and several other departments.
