Vehicle-in-Virtual-Environment (VVE) software developed by Ohio State University (OSU) researchers allows the testing of driver-less vehicles in completely safe virtual settings. The researchers found autonomous cars can learn to avoid potential collisions, boost pedestrian safety, and respond to infrequent or extreme traffic events because of VVE-facilitated immersion.
They substituted simulated data for high-resolution sensor output in a vehicle to link its controls to a realistic three-dimensional environment. The team demonstrated that the vehicle acted as if the simulation was its actual surroundings in real time. Researchers said the software provides the flexibility to modify the model for any situation.
More information:
https://news.osu.edu/testing-real-driverless-cars-in-a-virtual-environment/