Extending driving simulator capabilities toward Hardware-in-the-Loop testbeds and remote vehicle interfaces

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) driving simulator designed with ROS and Gazebo. An analysis of current driving simulator software is conducted focusing on the requirements for HIL simulators versus traditional simulator implementations. Finally, the process for implementing an open-source HIL-centric driving simulator is documented, along with an analysis of system performance emphasizing metrics of system latency and strategies to minimize inter-hardware delays.