A brief summary of changes to the VR Motion Driving Simulator:

Q1 2024

• New Laptop: Update Dell Mobile Precision Workstation 7780 CTO
• Improved: Intel Core i7-13850HX, 30MB Cache, 28 Threads, 20 Cores
• Improved: NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada 12GB GDDR6

Q2 2023

• New scenario: Loading Dock (Commercial license)
• New scenario: Delivery Parking (Commercial license)
• All Scenarios: Setting vehicle to drive skips introduction and VR acclimatization tutorial
• All Scenarios: Added 20-second interval between repetition of speed warning
• All Scenarios: Reduced transition time for parking overlay for evaluation
• Car Control: Braking Challenge uses 25-40mph speed target speed for heavy vehicles
• Highway Traffic: Added fire services vehicles to AI traffic (< 1% occurrence)

Q4 2022

• Constrained Parking: Fixed issue where entering and leaving space then parking would trigger evaluation
• 2-axle Day Cab Tractor: Reduced up-shift RPM threshold
• Box Truck: Brightened digital speedometer
• Pumper Fire Truck: Increased braking torque significantly
• Pumper Fire Truck: Fixed issue with RPM limiter cutting in early
• Pumper Fire Truck: Fixed issue with interior panels showing car body paint
• Fixed issue where changing gear without reaching a complete stop could result in incorrect gear displayed on dashboard
• Operator Menu: Fixed issue where shift-left/right would not work in vehicle menu on the first try

Q3 2022

• New vehicle: ”Pumper Fire Truck” (Fire Services license)
• Fixed issue with missing audio for some AI vehicle events
• Fixed performance issue with large number of parked vehicles

Q2 2022

• Added Industrial Training, Inc. partner logo branding
• Operator Overlay: Fixed issue where disabling multiple assists could result in incorrect display

Q1 2022

• Driving Controls: Long-pull on gear lever shifts to “Park” immediately at threshold time without release
• Constrained Parking: Matched introduction text to scenario-specific audio
• Constrained Parking: Added new shift tutorial / parking evaluate instructions
• Constrained Parking: Moved scoring reference point to edge of parking space
• Constrained Parking: Changed distance evaluation to measure edge/off-center (instead of absolute centering)
• Constrained Parking: Changed unit of measurement for relative position to inches
• Road Course: Added audio for no speed limit (Law Enforcement license)
• Fixed UI performance issue that could result in extra memory consumption
• Highway Traffic: Lowered Stroop minimum speed threshold and start delay to account for traffic

Q4 2021

• Constrained Parking: Simplified initial parking spot clearance for Pickup Truck
• Constrained Parking: Reduced delay in playing reverse instructions
• Road Course: Fixed issue where exit box did not always appear
• Intersections: Fixed issue where lamp arms were missing
• Passenger SUV: Fixed minor visual gaps in interior panels
• Passenger SUV: Removed police-specific searchlight handle and dome light from interior
• Software Updater: Reports Windows 10 semi-annual update version

Q4 2021

• Fixed issue where AI vehicles attempted to avoid Blind-Spot detection zones
• Fixed issue where faint black circle was visible in mirrors as scenario begins or ends
• Fixed issue where vehicle suspension had not settled before scenario begins
• Fixed issue where Software Updater was unable to write license file

Q4 2021

• Software Updater: Will close simulator software before performing version upgrade
• New Driver Assist: Blind-Spot Detection (BSD)
• Front-Wheel Drive Sedan: Added Blind Spot Detection Driver Assist
• All-Wheel Drive SUV: Added Blind Spot Detection Driver Assist
• Driver Assist menu buttons now show full text and acronym
• Driver assist menu renamed as “Disabled Assists:” to clarify polarity
• Increased size of the vehicle menu to allow larger number of selections (>10 vehicles)
• Interceptor SUV: Moved order in menu order to appear after Commercial vehicles (Law Enforcement license)
• Car Control: Changed visual appearance of asphalt to appear drier
• Car Control: Raised Braking Challenge start box to avoid overlay clipping under pavement
• Driver Summary: Fixed issue where colliding with an AI vehicle could be misclassified as parked
• 35-ft Trailer: Fixed issue where the rear running lights were not always visible
• Highway: Fixed issue where vehicle that drove past exit could drive off end of the road surface

Q4 2021

• New vehicle: “All-Wheel Drive SUV” (Passenger license)
• New vehicle: ”Interceptor SUV” (Law Enforcement license)
• New scenario: Road Course (Law Enforcement license)
• Operator Overlay: Added Gear position to driver to controls display
• Operator Overlay: Added Stroop display to driving dynamics overlay
• Operator Overlay: Increased speed value font size
• Physics: Changed ground drag for both road surfaces and off-road terrain to better match empirical values
• Light-Duty Pickup: Adjusted braking strength and bias to better match prototype vehicle
• Front-Wheel Drive Sedan: Adjusted braking strength and bias to better match prototype vehicle
• Car Control: Increased maximum allowed speed for law enforcement vehicles
• Car Control: Fixed issue with visual fidelity for fences and lamp poles
• Constrained Parking: Moved gate guidance audio earlier (200ft before gate)
• Constrained Parking: Fixed visual fidelity issue with background refineries
• Highway Traffic: Added law enforcement vehicles to AI traffic (1% occurrence)

Q3 2021

• Summary: Fixed issue where collision with a moving trailer was categorized as “Parked Vehicle”
• Changed “Semi 2-axle Day Cab Tractor” menu name to be consistent with other vehicles
• Reordered “Semi 2-axle” trailer menu entries by length, shortest first
• Highway Traffic: Added speed variations for AI passenger and commercial traffic
• 2-axle Day Cab Tractor: Fixed issue where right-side mirrors did not show proper reflection

Q3 2021

• Summary: Added category of object and speed of impact when scenario ends due to vehicle collision
• New vehicle: “Semi 2-axle Day Cab Tractor” (Commercial license)
• New vehicle: “Semi 2-axle & 35-foot Trailer” (Commercial license)
• New vehicle: “Semi 2-axle & 48-foot Trailer” (Commercial license)
• Renamed “Semi Tractor Trailer” => “Semi 3-axle Sleeper Tractor”
• Highway Traffic: Added heavy vehicles to the AI traffic (10% Box truck/Bobtail tractors, 5% Semi Tractor-trailer)
• Highway Traffic: AI traffic braking is less aggressive; vehicles may coast when closely following each other
• Highway Traffic: Fixed issue where AI traffic may not detect obstacles ahead in time to brake
• Highway Traffic: Fixed issue where stopped AI traffic may still creep forward
• Highway: Changed scenario start alignment to orient vehicles with roadway
• Constrained Parking: Changed reporting of distance/alignment from % to raw measurement of angle/distance
• Constrained Parking: Fixed issue where multiple mistakes might cancel out, resulting in a better score
• Decreased menu update of unchanging values during drive to improve overall VR performance
• Optimized telemetry recording to improve overall VR performance

Q2 2021

• Box Truck: Raised driver head position
• Box Truck: Added reversing beep alarm
• Box Truck: Increased lockup RPM on clutch to reduce pull with idle throttle
• Box Truck: Fixed missing scrape audio on contact
• Semi Tractor: Raised driver head position
• Semi Tractor: Added reversing beep alarm
• Semi Tractor: Increased lockup RPM on clutch to reduce pull with idle throttle
• Semi Tractor: Fixed missing scrape audio on contact
• Semi Tractor: Fixed issue where navigation cues were sometimes signaled after vehicle had passed them
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Fixed issue where some trailer collisions might not be detected
• Highway Traffic: Moved AI traffic path further away from center to avoid near-collisions and allow for wider vehicles
• Constrained Parking: Fixed issue where parking spot may briefly illuminate yellow after evaluation
• All Vehicles: Reduced range of reverse/brake lights
• Fixed issue where summary files might not be written when directory configuration file contained multiple lines.

Q2 2021

• Driver Controls: Gear shift lever hold for park reduced to 0.75 seconds
• Constrained Parking: Changed parking spot evaluation condition to placing vehicle gear in park
• Highway scenarios: Decreased semi-vehicle speed violation threshold to 72 mph
• All Vehicles: Added brake/reverse light projection in night driving
• Box Truck: Added running lights
• Box Truck: Fixed issue where top of logo badge was partially buried in steering wheel
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Added running lights
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Increased engine top-end to maintain higher speeds
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Reduced differential clutch-pack preload/friction/power angles to decrease snap oversteer
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Reduced differential ratio to increase top-end speed
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Increased size of digital dash display
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Added logo badge to steering wheel
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Fixed issue with trailer box color/shadows
• Semi Tractor Trailer: Fixed issue with false collisions at vehicle front corners
• Software Updater: Added workaround for issue where version 2021.2.1 does not self-update due to suppressed UAC dialog
• [Manual update required for earlier clients]
• Software Updater: Increased network no-progress timeout to 90 seconds

Q2 2021

• Driver Controls: Gear shift lever for shifting between Driver/Reverse is immediate (no hold required)
• Driver Controls: Holding gear shift lever for 1.5 seconds will place vehicle in Park
• All scenarios: Pressing “Skip” will skip full scenario introduction as well as VR Introduction
• All scenarios: “Skip” may be triggered immediately at the beginning of a scenario
• Semi Tractor: Fixed issue where digital display was positioned slightly above dashboard
• Semi Tractor: Improved drive train modeling: Increased power and top speed.
• Car Control: Fixed Lane Challenge start box not appearing when driver failed to stop for Braking Challenge
• Car Control: Fixed situation where stopping too soon in braking zone (slow vehicle) failed to complete challenge

Q1 2021

• Fixed a configuration issue where summary files were sometimes not being written to disk
• Main Menu: Selecting a scenario with an incompatible vehicle will override vehicle selection

Q1 2021

• Software Update Client: Suppressed installer GUI during client upgrade
• Software Update Client: Added automatic restart of after client upgrade
• Main Menu: Disabled input while driver controls calibration popup is active
• Main Menu: Added left/right navigation in category menus using Shift+arrow keys

Q1 2021

• Fixed issue where main menu was not coloring active category correctly

Q3 2020

• Fixed an issue where AI vehicles would not be present in some scenarios.

Q3 2020

• Fixed an issue where steering/pedal calibration was unreachable.
• August 2020
• The initial release of the VR Motion license/software update client, this allows the end-user to update the software online at any time.
• License algorithm updated for online access

Q3 2020

• Car Control: Changed Braking challenge AR overlay to “BRAKE” instead of “STOP”
• Enlarged tire icons in contact patch display
• Smoothed scaling in contact patch display
• Semi Tractor: Changed tractor drive-train rear axle power distribution
• Semi Tractor: Added three-axle contact patch display
• Semi Tractor: Changed rear axles contact patch display to dual-wheel image
• Box Truck: Changed rear axle contact patch display to dual-wheel image

Q2 2020

• Highway Scenarios: Added average look-ahead time (based on driver’s head movement) to debrief
• Fixed issue with mirror reflections not following vehicle roll angle

Q2 2020

• Intersections: Fixed issue where cul-de-sac navigation audio had been removed
• Semi-Tractor: Fixed issue where multiple audio cues were triggered by cab and trailer
• Fixed issue where disabled assists were still displayed on the menu after selecting a vehicle without those assists
• Highway Traffic: Fixed issue where ending scenario without driving resulted in a program hang

Q2 2020

• Added internationalization for menus, vehicles, signs, and measurement units
• Added Canadian French support

Q1 2020

• Intersections: Removed “go straight” guidance instructions from the navigation

Q1 2020

• Increased visibility of road signs at a distance

Q1 2020

• Removed “Constrained Parking” from Commercial vehicle package (no commercial vehicles can park in a standard-sized space)
• Intersections: Removed cul-de-sac from Semi Tractor-Trailer route
• Fixed issue where brake and throttle would cancel each other out
• Highway Traffic: Fixed issue where Commercial package could not find any cars to AI to drive

Q4 2019

• Fixed issue where missing license file resulted in the black screen instead of the information screen

Q4 2019

• New vehicle: “Semi Tractor 3-axle + 40ft trailer” (Commercial license)
• New vehicle: “Semi Tractor 3-axle + 48ft trailer” (Commercial license)
• New vehicle: “Semi Tractor 3-axle + 53ft trailer” (Commercial license)

Q4 2019

• New vehicle available for add-on: Semi Tractor (3-axle sleeper, diesel, air brakes)
• Intersections: Separated oncoming lane crossing scoring to only apply to passenger vehicles
• Highway Traffic: Conditional scoring of following distance and cars passed based on vehicle type
• Highway Traffic: Removed passed cars requirement for tractor-trailer vehicles
• Highway Traffic: Extended maximum following distance threshold for tractor-trailer vehicles

Q3 2019

• A combined software release for both Portable Desktop and Premium Enterprise platforms
• New licensing mechanism (Forward compatible with future updates, incompatible with prior versions)
• Release of Skidcar Systems Virtual Skidcar for Portable Desktop
• Added release identifier to license failure screen
• Fixed issue with vehicle headlight alignments being too tight/low
• Front-Wheel-Drive Sedan: Fixed issue with missing wind and impact noises
• Light-Duty Pickup: Reduced steering wheel strength to match power steering of prototype
• New vehicle available for add-on: Box Truck (283” wheelbase, 15,000lbs, diesel, air brakes)

Q3 2019

• Fixed issue where slalom cones all placed on left side
• Improved menu selection persistence, to reduce operator key presses
• Added steering wheel presence check to address issues where the wheel not powered on or connected before the simulator started.
• Intersections: Fixed issue where light changing from red to green during a right turn was scored as running a red light
• Car Control: Added a curved row of cones below the exit arrow to guide drivers toward the exit.
• Front-Wheel Drive Sedan: Fixed issue with occasional digital speedometer flicker.

Q3 2019

• New scenario:
• Constrained Parking: A short drive through an industrial sector with a parking lot requiring tight parking between obstacles in both forward and reversspan>
• Front-Wheel-Drive Sedan: Added digital speedometer to the center of the dash
• Intersections: Moved route guidance cues further away from intersection to allow more driver reaction time.
• Intersections Scenario: Increased speed limit advisory warning to 36mph to reduce interruption of route guidance
• Intersections: Fixed issue where wide right turns on red light were scored as running the light
• Fixed an issue where headset view would freeze momentarily during the fade-out at simulation end

Q2 2019

• New scenario:
• Intersections: A low-speed combination of 3-way and 4-way connections, with stop signs and traffic lights. Automatic in-vehicle route guidance provided. Automatic intermittent driver distraction is available.</span >
• Highway scenarios: Added overpasses and entrance/exit ramps with signage to the scenario. The driver must now merge and exit safely.
• Highway scenarios: Increased overall traffic flow to increase the difficulty and provide opportunities for passing.

Q2 2019

• Split the “Rural Highway” scenario into two:
• “Rural Highway Solo” (same solo drive as an original scenario)
• “Rural Highway Traffic” (light AI traffic in both directions
• Added forward/reverse gear selection (using the paddle on the steering wheel)
• Added front-wheel inertia to steering wheel feedback
• Steering wheel damping now controlled by DirectInput
• Highway scenarios: Added intermittent Stroop distraction at cruising speeds.
• Car Control: Expanded ‘stop’ commands at Braking and Slalom to include mention of the green box.
• Car Control: Fixed issue where narration would halt if the driver stopped short of marked zones.

Q1 2019

• The initial release of desktop product
• Two scenarios:
• Car Control (3-stage evaluation of vehicle handling skills)
• Rural Highway (solo drive on the long unlit road)
• Three Skies:
• Sunny (clear)
• Overcast (cloudy, extremely light fog)
• Night (partly cloudy, dim moon illumination)
• Two Surface Conditions:
• Dry
• Wet
• Driver distraction (via Stroop test):
• Car Control: automatically triggers at each stage
• Rural Highway: Manually triggered by the operator
• Two Vehicles:
• Front-Wheel Drive Sedan
• Light-Duty Pickup