Effects of visual fidelity on curve negotiation, gaze behaviour and simulator discomfort

Technological developments have led to increased visual fidelity of driving simulators. However, simplified visuals have potential advantages, such as improved experimental control, reduced simulator discomfort and increased generalisability of results. In this driving simulator study, we evaluated the effects of visual fidelity on driving performance, gaze behaviour and subjective discomfort ratings. Twenty-four participants drove a track with 90° corners in (1) a high fidelity, textured environment, (2) a medium fidelity, non-textured environment without scenery objects and (3) a low-fidelity monochrome environment that only showed lane markers. The high fidelity level resulted in higher steering activity on straight road segments, higher driving speeds and higher gaze variance than the lower fidelity levels. No differences were found between the two lower fidelity levels. In conclusion, textures and objects were found to affect steering activity and driving performance; however, gaze behaviour during curve negotiation and self-reported simulator discomfort were unaffected.<b>Practitioner Summary</b>: In a driving simulator study, three levels of visual fidelity were evaluated. The results indicate that the highest fidelity level, characterised by a textured environment, resulted in higher steering activity, higher driving speeds and higher variance of horizontal gaze than the two lower fidelity levels without textures.

技术进步提升了驾驶模拟器的视觉逼真度（visual fidelity）。但简化的视觉呈现具备潜在优势，例如可强化实验控制、减轻模拟器驾驶不适，以及提升研究结果的可推广性。本项驾驶模拟器研究中，我们评估了视觉逼真度对驾驶表现、注视行为（gaze behaviour）以及主观不适评分的影响。24名参与者分别在三种环境下驾驶包含90°弯道的赛道：(1) 高逼真度带纹理场景环境；(2) 中逼真度无纹理且无场景物体的环境；(3) 低逼真度仅显示车道标线的单色环境。相较于两个较低逼真度组别，高逼真度组在直行车道段的转向操作量更高、行驶速度更快，且注视方差更大。两个较低逼真度组别之间未观测到显著差异。综上，纹理与场景物体对转向操作量及驾驶表现存在影响，但弯道通过时的注视行为以及自我报告的模拟器驾驶不适并未受其影响。<b>从业者摘要</b>：本驾驶模拟器研究共评估了三种视觉逼真度水平。结果显示，以带纹理场景为特征的最高逼真度组，相较于两个无纹理的较低逼真度组，具备更高的转向操作量、更快的行驶速度以及更大的水平注视方差。