Research by a team of British students, lead by Dr. Alex Stedmon, could make motorbiking safer for everyone involved.

Using a donated Triumph motorcycle, the Nottingham-based team created a simulator linked to a projection screen to give a realistic impression of being on the road. The motorcycle sways left and right pushed by four pneumatic actuators while a road environment is projected onto the screen in front, but the researchers want to further improve it by adding more features, such as vibration for the bike and road surface, wind effects and more realistic acceleration and braking effects.

When further developed, this project could prove to be an useful tool for training any rider, helping them develop key skills and responses to dangerous situations. Custom situations can be designed for different purposes and the rider’s performance can be measured by specialists, which could provide useful data for manufacturers and road safety organizations.

The simulator should be operational starting this month.

BBC and Daily Mail via Gizmo Watch.