Integrating Headlight Glares into Driving Simulations Based on Human Contrast Perception

The aim of this work is to enhance the virtual development of novel driver assistance systems for critical traffic scenarios including headlight glare. This is achieved by measuring the effects of glare on human contrast perception and including the results in a driving simulator.

As contrast perception is highly subjective, two psychophysical experiments were performed. For different glare intensities and durations, the recurring contrast perception of the subject was recorded. Further, varying background illuminations were incorporated. The results have been integrated into a driving simulation by adjusting the display contrast. Afterwards the implementation was evaluated in a field test.

The modified night driving simulation provides a more realistic visualization and enables the analysis of critical traffic scenarios including headlight glare. This leads to a better transferability of driving simulator results to reality and enables a deeper research of the interaction of oncoming vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems.