General Motors has upgraded its fifth-generation Research Driving Simulator with Barco F80 laser projectors and Scalable Display Technologies calibration — delivering a 360-degree immersive visual environment for advanced automotive research and Human Machine Interface testing.
General Motors has upgraded its fifth-generation Research Driving Simulator — a key tool in the company's long history of using simulation to study human factors in driving. The upgrade refurbishes the visual system with Barco F80 laser projectors and integrates Scalable Display Technologies calibration software, delivering a significantly enhanced immersive experience for the research and development team.
The GM Research Driving Simulator was originally built in 2009 and upgraded in 2012 to include a motion system. The simulator has been instrumental in testing Super Cruise and other advanced driver assistance programs. For the most recent refurbishment, the GM team worked with Electric Picture Display Systems, a Florida-based specialist in advanced display and projection systems.
Electric Picture Display Systems selected Barco F80 laser projectors for their proven reliability and consistent image quality. The F80-4K12 projectors deliver brighter images, a wider colour gamut, and higher resolution — enhancing the realism and immersion essential for accurately studying driver behaviour and vehicle systems.
The projectors create a 360-degree horizontal display, with the motion base capable of turning up to 360° inside the simulator. Short-throw lenses and a compact design allow larger vehicle cabs to be integrated, expanding the range of testing scenarios and future-proofing the system.
Scalable Display Technologies' calibration software simplifies setup and ongoing maintenance — reducing downtime and enabling teams to focus on research rather than display management.
"The new Barco projectors are much brighter, have a superior colour space, and provide a wider field of view," said Richard Romano, Staff Researcher at GM R&D. "The projectors have transformed our driving simulator, providing an excellent immersive experience that enhances our research and development capabilities."
The upgraded GM RDS simulator now delivers a truly immersive and lifelike driving experience, with brighter images, richer colours, and sharper resolution that bring every detail of the virtual environment to life. Thanks to the refurbishment, the simulator is more versatile and better positioned to support future research and development initiatives across GM's engineering programs.
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