Vehicle Gear Ratios Assessment: Study of the Fidelity of a Videogame to Theoretical Vehicle Dynamics

Resumo

The modification of certain vehicle dynamics attributes, such as the gear ratios of a transmission system, can generate significant impacts on vehicle behavior under different driving conditions. Such changes influence performance, such as acceleration times, maximum speed, and traction forces. With advancements in simulation technologies featured in electronic games, there has been a growing convergence between simulated dynamic and real-world behavior of theoretical engineering. In this context, modern video games have increasingly established themselves as complementary tools in the educational process, particularly related to automotive engineering, by enabling the customization of technical concepts in a math ambience. However, in-depth analysis is needed to assess whether vehicle input customizations performed in video games follow the expected results when compared to the real world. Thus, the objective of this article is to investigate the impacts caused by gear ratio changes on vehicle drivability in the videogame Forza Horizon 5. The theoretical framework studied, and the tests conducted shows that this game have already being able to simulate, within their parameters, phenomena that are well-documented in real-world studies, which means that games like this can already serve as valuable educational tools.