Towards autonomous EV by using Virtual Reality and Prescan-Simulink simulation environments

The paper presents the main results of a study which is dealing with the use of the virtual reality (VR) concept employed for the study of an electric vehicle (EV). The VR study is important before the real implementation of the autonomous-driving of the EV, since it is more efficient and safe to evaluate its operation in a simulation environment. Here, Prescan software is used to develop the VR interface, while Simulink is used to model the entire EV (controller and propulsion unit included). A set of specific sensors can be placed and configured for the autonomous driving in the VR software and the most realistic conditions (i.e., traffic signs and weather conditions, pedestrians, road profiles etc.) can be simulated. It is also possible to program a real control unit via Simulink interface, which is to be used for the supply of a real propulsion motor, via a battery. Thus, the best realistic conditions are evaluated in the VR environment, and thus one could precisely estimate the autonomy of the vehicles in the perspective of evaluating/improving its energy management.