Developing a Simulated Driving Environment using Assetto Corsa with Vibro-tactile Feedback on a Steering Wheel for aiding Research into Multi-Modal Human-Vehicle Interaction

The aim of this paper was to describe the development of a simulated feedback system that would help examine the effects of multi-modal interaction with an in-car user interface. Given that interactions with current visual and/or audio feedback systems add to the already existing cognitive load of driving, further research on haptic feedback is imperative to analyze the full potential of adding this modality to the existing modalities in ensuring safety on roads and improving the overall driving experience. While existing research does address these possibilities, experiments that mostly use basic simulators do not suffice in replicating real-life driving environments. To that end, python extensions were added to Assetto Corsa (AC), the sim racing video game that can be considered as a closer approximation of a practical driving environment, to retrieve in-game driving data, provide vibro-tactile feedback on a steering wheel and capture user inputs while driving.