DRIVING SIMULATION AS A TRAILBLAZER


DRIVING SIMULATION AS A TRAILBLAZER
A LIFE DEDICATED TO THE VIRTUAL ROAD
Dr.-Ing. Winfried Tomaske talks about pioneering work,
technological advances, and the future use of simulations.
The development of simulation technology in the mobility
sector is inextricably linked to individuals who recognized the
potential of virtual environments at an early stage. One of
them is Dr.-Ing. Winfried Tomaske. Back in the 1970s, he
devoted himself to the topic of driving simulators with
scientiﬁc curiosity and technical passion – at a time when
digital simulations were still in their infancy. In an interview
with ASCS, he provides insights into his early days, the
challenges of early simulation research, and his assessment
of current and future developments. It is both an exciting
testimony to a bygone era and a look ahead to the future.
What memories or personal experiences do you
associate with your early days working with simulators?
Is there a particular “aha” moment that has stayed with
you?
As a research assistant at Helmut Schmidt University in
Hamburg, I began my doctoral thesis on driving simulators in
1977. Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg had developed a driving
simulator with a tilting vehicle cabin to convey the impression
of movement. I was also allowed to drive the simulator. But
here, motion sickness made itself felt. I felt nauseous. The
“aha” moment was: Where does this come from? What can be
changed? For research and training purposes, we need other
simulators with diﬀerent motion systems to avoid motion
sickness eﬀects. I wanted to investigate this. This “aha”
moment led me to the topic of my doctoral thesis.
Mr. Tomaske, you completed your doctoral thesis on
simulators back in 1983. Can you describe the technical
possibilities and issues surrounding simulators at that
time?
The technical possibilities were very limited back then, of
course. Visualization was achieved by constructing a model
landscape through which a video camera was guided. This
image was presented to the driver either on a monitor or via
a large-screen projection. This was, of course, very complex
and inﬂexible. An essential prerequisite for use in a driving
simulator is the real-time capability of the computing
medium. This required the use of very complex and
expensive analog computers. Only these were capable of
real-time operation. An expensive ampliﬁer had to be
purchased for each computing operation. As a result, only
relatively simple vehicle models such as the single-track
model or simple four-wheel models could be used. The
inﬂuence of axle kinematics or even elastokinematics could
not be represented. Attempts were made to simulate these
inﬂuences by replicating non-linear tire characteristics. Since
neither complex vehicle models nor the visualization of
external traﬃc could be realized, the research focus at that
time was on fundamental questions of driving stability. For
example, in the 1980s, driving simulator tests were used to
describe the driving dynamics behavior of the so-called TB
value (product of response behavior and stationary slip
angle). It was used for the objective assessment and
evaluation of driving dynamics parameters. Objective
parameters from open-loop driving maneuvers were
correlated with closed-loop driving maneuvers on driving
simulators.
Winfried Tomaske studied mechanical engineering with a specialization in
automotive engineering at RWTH Aachen University. Following this, he began
working on October 1977, as a research associate at the Institute for Automotive
Engineering and Internal Combustion Engines at the University of the Bundeswehr
Hamburg. In 1983, he earned his doctorate with a dissertation entitled "The
Inﬂuence of Motion Information on Driver Steering Control Behavior and
Implications for the Design of Driving Simulators." He then assumed the position
of Academic Director at the Institute of Vehicle Technology and Powertrain
Systems at the Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg. In addition, he served as a
lecturer at the university, teaching the subject "Test Methods for Analyzing Driving
Behavior." Since 1990, he has been the head of the working group on Automotive
and Traﬃc Engineering at the Hamburg Regional Association of the Association of
German Engineers (VDI). His research focuses on driving simulation, vehicle
dynamics, driving simulators, test bench technology, and tire characteristics. Over
the course of his academic career, he has authored a total of 36 publications. He
was also actively involved in numerous industry-related projects concerning
driving simulators and participated in various program committees dedicated to
the topic of driving simulation.
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