Motorsport is a quest for the all-important competitive advantage. From the initial design of the car and the preparation of the driver, through to setup choices, strategy decisions and energy management, every single aspect of a successful competition programme comes down to utilising resources as effectively as possible.
To complicate matters, professional-level motorsport is a highly dynamic environment. Rules are continually changing, technology is evolving, and in some categories the cars can receive significant updates from one race to the next. Consequently, it’s not always possible to work through each of these challenges with real-world testing alone.
Next come the issues of cost, logistics and privacy. For example, teams may need to transport cars to suitable test venues in the winter months, book private test sessions and, in some cases, join hosted test sessions where competing teams may be present. But more fundamentally, most series now impose strict limits on all forms of real-world testing.
All this has placed added emphasis on the use of simulation. At the same time, more affordable computing power, improved hardware and growing expertise has pushed the benefits of many different simulation technologies, including Driver-in-the-Loop (DIL) simulation.
In this paper, we’ll discuss some of the challenges faced by race teams, as well as the relevance and practicality of DIL simulation. The three main types of DIL simulators are defined and described, and a DIL simulator selection checklist is provided to help race engineers, technical directors, programme managers and other stakeholders assess various DIL simulator technologies.
Modern DIL simulators range in size, complexity, performance and cost. To simplify matters they can be broadly classified into three categories: Entertainment DIL, Human Factors DIL, and Engineering DIL.
Entertainment DIL
Entertainment-class driving simulators can provide graphical and driver interface realism and large libraries of ready-to-go race tracks and vehicle models. While gaming graphics can be quite stunning, the vehicle physics and driver sensory feedback is greatly simplified. Therefore, these simulators are typically not used by race engineers or vehicle constructors. The most practical use case is to assist professional and amateur drivers with race track familiarisation.
Human Factors DIL
Human-Factors-class driving simulators deliver a more realistic driving experience by providing a more immersive cockpit environment, better vision systems and potentially some level of motion cueing. However, the focus is generally on investigations where vehicle dynamics performance is not a critical factor, such as Human-Machine Interface (HMI) development. Generally, these DIL systems are large, slower-moving installations with some supplemental mechanical and/or acoustic vibration elements that are not necessarily designed to mimic the physical forces encountered in motorsport.
Engineering DIL
Engineering-class driving simulators deliver compelling driver immersion via high performance motion and vision systems, as well as comprehensive tool suite connectivity. These DIL simulators typically have medium-size form factors, and are directed towards satisfying the needs of professional drivers and race engineers. These simulators are designed specifically for use in automotive and motorsport applications. They typically rely on structural composites and other lightweight materials to deliver the low mass and high stiffness required to accurately deliver high-dynamic motion cues; they use low-latency motion systems such as stratiform machines, with tune-able motion cueing strategies that provide independent movement for all vehicle axes; they offer sophisticated graphical rendering with images projected onto large free-standing screens or even head-mounted displays.
