For almost all modern means of transportation (car, train, airplane) driving simulators exist that provide realistic models of complex traffic situations under defined laboratory conditions. For many years, these simulators have been successfully used for drivers’ training and education and as a consequence considerably contribute to the overall road safety. Unfortunately, there is no such system for the bicycle, although the number of bike accidents increases against the common trend. 

Hence the objective of this project is to design a real bicycle simulator that virtually presents traffic situations within an immersive environment. For this purpose the bike is mounted onto a motion platform with six degrees of freedom (6 DoF) that can provide a semi-realistic simulation of riding turns, of different track surfaces and additional external forces acting on the bike. Required data for the simulation is achieved by test drives with a bike, equipped with a variety of sensors. In addition, different basic visual stimuli can be specifically applied in such a visual simulation setting, offering the possibility to examine the impact of visual perception on physical and mental performance under controlled basic conditions. Within the scope of this research project the correlation between the visually perceived motion and the physically generated motion will be studied for the first time. Furthermore, a ergonomic model is created for the investigation of attention and concentration during labour. The simulation surrounding enables the stimulation of cognitive performance, as it is found in real work situations.

Until recently, simulations under labour have been examined without the influence of additional cognitive strain. Thus, it is expected that investigation in such a simulation environment will provide closer to reality prediction of concentrative ness under labour. With this system a completely new range of applications in the field of safety at work and in the research of occupational health and safety in road safety education will arise. 

So, a prototype will be developed can serve for road safety education, for prevention purposes, and for specific simulations of visual information under simultaneous physical exercise.