A simulation for examining the effects of inaccurate head tracking on drivers of vehicles with transparent cockpit projections

The transparent cockpit (TC) is a driver-car interface concept in which processed camera images of the surrounding environment are superimposed onto the car interior to give the driver the ability to see through the cockpit. For a perspectively accurate experience from the driver's point of view, head tracking is required. However, a real-world system may be prone to typical tracking errors, especially while driving. In this work, we present a TC simulation using artificial errors of various types to examine how much each type affects driver performance and experience. First results of an initial study show that there is generally no significant deterioration of lateral performance compared to a perfectly accurate TC. Repeated loss of tracking was least noticed by participants. Accuracy (miscalibration) and precision (jitter) errors were noticed the most.