Driving simulators

Tender description

The Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) has been using driving simulators to support its research since 1994. Currently ITS has a passenger vehicle simulator, UoLDS, based on a Jaguar S type vehicle cabin: http://www.uolds.leeds.ac.uk/ Unlike many other simulators, especially in the United Kingdom, UoLDS was and continues to be developed using in-house expertise. It became operational in 2006 after receiving development funds from the University and the former Science and Engineering Research Council. Since then, the simulator has been an essential element in much of the driver behaviour and transport safety research work carried out at the University. Research sponsors have included the British Government's Department of Transport and of Trade and Industry, UK Research Councils, the European Union and several vehicle manufacturers. In order to support expanded research at ITS a separate and independent truck driving simulator (TDS) needs to be developed. Due to timing and a desire to understand and incorporate best practices, it is required that the TDS be delivered as a turnkey hardware and software system. The successful tenderer will take overall control and responsibility for the installation and commissioning of the TDS. In addition, the hardware must be controllable by software APIs that can be linked into ITS's current software baseline. It is important to us that we retain the ability to modify both software and hardware in-house. The initial study to be performed in the TDS is a warning system to help truck drivers negotiate through urban intersections while avoiding bicyclists.