Development of a Night Driving Simulator

The use of night vision devices (NIVUs) by US Army foot soldiers, aviators, and drivers of combat and tactical wheeled vehicles has enhanced operations at night by allowing increased mobility and potentially safer operations. With this increased capability in the night environment has come an increased exposure to the hazards of that environment and the risks that the command structure must manage and balance with mission requirements. Numerous vehicular accidents have occurred during night field exercises involving drivers wearing image intensification (12) systems. These accidents can frequently be attributed to perceptual problems experienced by the drivers. Experience has shown that performance with NVDs increases with practice and experience. However, there is little formal training provided in night driving skills and few opportunities to practice these skills under realistic conditions. The general objectives of the Phase I effort are to define and demonstrate a low-cost Night Driving Simulator (NDS concept for training night driving skills with 12 devices and to identify and evaluate the tecniques and resources that are available for implementing this approach. The results of this effort will lead directly to the development of an NDS Phase II. System developers are recognizing that night vision systems can aid drivers of commercial vehicies and law enforcement vehicles during poor visibility conditions. Once these systems are available to the commercial sector, training programs will be required to reinforce formal training and provide recurring training to maintain skill levels. The NDS developed during the Phase I and Phase II efforts will have direct application in these areas.