This invention provides in a safe and effective manner the experience of
observing potential collision obstacles or other hazard images to the
human operator of an otherwise conventional vehicle, (such as an
automobile or aircraft) moving in a normal manner in a natural
environment (such as an outdoor test track). The invention incorporates
in addition to the mobile vehicle, computer-based image generation
devices, and position, velocity, acceleration, measurement instruments to
enable the simulated visual hazard images, including operator perception
of and response to those hazard images. Making the actual moving vehicle
part of the simulated hazard encounter means the vestibular (motion) cues
and visual cues of the natural environment are very realistic, while only
the computer-generated hazard images imposed on the natural environment
view are virtual. The system results in a safe and cost efficient way of
producing a realistic experience of vehicle operation encounters,
including both the observation and response.