Using a Virtual Reality Walking Simulator to Investigate Pedestrian Behavior

Summary

This protocol describes use of a walking simulator that serves as a safe and ecologically valid method to study pedestrian behavior in the presence of moving traffic.

Abstract

To cross a road successfully, individuals must coordinate their movements with moving vehicles. This paper describes use of a walking simulator in which people walk on a treadmill to intercept gaps between two moving vehicles in an immersive virtual environment. Virtual reality allows for a safe and ecologically varied investigation of gap crossing behavior. Manipulating the initial starting distance can further the understanding of a participant’s speed regulation while approaching a gap. The speed profile may be assessed for various gap crossing variables, such as initial distance, vehicle size, and gap size. Each walking simulation results in a position/time series that can inform how velocity is adjusted differently depending on the gap characteristics. This methodology can be used by researchers investigating pedestrian behavior and behavioral dynamics while employing human participants in a safe and realistic setting.

Introduction

Gap crossing, an interceptive behavior, requires moving oneself in relation to a gap between two moving vehicles^1,2,3,4. Gap crossing involves perceiving oncoming vehicles and controlling movement in relation to moving traffic. This requires actions to be precisely coupled with perceived information. Many previous studies have examined perceptual judgment and gap-crossing behavior using artificial roads, roadside simulators, and screen projection virtual environments^5,6. However, pre....

Protocol

This experimental protocol involves human subjects. The procedure was approved by the Kunsan National University Research Board.

1. Preparation of equipment

NOTE: The equipment includes the following: a personal computer (PC, 3.3 GHz with 8 GM) with a mouse, keyboard, and monitor; Walking Simulator software installed on the desktop PC; a customized treadmill (width: 0.67 m, length: 1.26 m, height: 1.10 m) equipped with handrails, a belt, and a magnetic encoder with a .......

Discussion

Previous studies have used simulators with projected screens^16,17, but this protocol improves ecological validity via a fully immersive virtual view (i.e., 360 degrees). In addition, requiring participants to walk on a treadmill enables the examination of how children and young adults calibrate their actions to a changing environment. This experimental design’s virtual scene changes simultaneously with participant motions, and the vehicles arrive at the ped.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Customized treadmill	Kunsan National University		Treadmill built for this study
Desktop PC	Multiple companies		Standard Desktop PC
Oculus Rift Development Kit	Oculus VR, LLC	DK1	Virtual reality headset
Walking Simulator Software	Kunsan National University		Software deloped for this experiment