OpenBikeSim is an online platform for open-source bicycling simulators: simulator technology, knowhow, community

The OpenBikeSim project is currently being developed by the Chair of Bicycle Traffic at the University of Wuppertal. We are a multi-disciplinary team including engineers specialised in transportation, electro-mechanics and software.

Driven by our experience of building our own bicycling simulator, it is our mission to help accelerate research and development in the field of simulator-based human-factors research in the context of mobility.

The OpenBikeSim project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

---

The OpenBikeSim project

Within the OpenBikeSim project we pursue three main goals:

1. OpenBikeSim.tech – Open-source modular simulator technology

We performed a systematic review (currently in peer-review process, will be linked here once published) on bicycling simulator use in mobility research, which showed that there are various use cases and almost countless options for setting up and applying a bicycling simulator. But even though various bicycling simulators are frequently used, so far there are no common standards for building, documenting and publishing bicycling simulator technology and research designs.

Our project provides a solution to this challenge: OpenBikeSim.tech

Through analyzing the bicycling simulators described in previous research, we derived a system architecture which defines the physical and virtual sub-systems of bicycling simulators. We then derived sub-systems by simulator functions and reviewed the technical solutions to show the options for each individual sub-system.

OpenBikeSim.tech uses the resulting system architecture to:

• provide a structure for comparable and efficient documentation of simulator technology
• create a database of available documentation for technical solutions for each sub-system

Using OpenBikeSim.tech to develop bicycling simulators enables us – and you – to systematically build, document and publish a simulator fitting your project’s requirements reusing and creating new open-source modules.

2. OpenBikeSim.design – Guidance for experiment design

Creating an experiment design that is capable of answering your research question is a challenging task that requires to balance different elements including the simulator technology, the scenario to be replicated, the tasks to be performed by the participants, the variables to be measured and analysed and much more. The ultimate goal – and challenge – of designing an experiment is to find the optimal balance leading to maximum research quality within the given practical constraints.

Our project lays the foundation for guidance for experiment design: OpenBikeSim.design

While much more systematic research is required to understand the dependencies between all elements of experiment design we aim to provide basic guidance for mastering the challenge by bundling the existing knowledge. The idea is to create an experiment design workflow guiding through the challenges of each element by pointing out pitfalls and providing references to existing research.

OpenBikeSim.design gives researchers new to bicycling simulator experiments an easier start and allows continuously bundling expert knowledge.

3. OpenBikeSim.community – Online platform for the community of simulator researchers

Bicycling simulator research is multi-disciplinary and international. Experts are spread around the globe and have differing expertises and research focuses. In person meetings at conferences and workshops are very valuable for exchange. However, effective continuous collaboration requires a platform which connects people in different places at different times.

Our project creates an open exchange platform for simulator researchers: OpenBikeSim.community

Providing forums for asynchronous discussions and wikis for capturing knowledge without publication bias, we aim to build an open community for bicycling simulator researchers to contribute to the growing knowledge base and to connect with one another to work together on improving bicycling simulator research.

---

News // Blog