The Vanderbilt research driving simulator that reimagines driver education
The Vanderbilt Research Driving Simulator That Reimagines Driver Education
SANDI began as a bold idea inside Vanderbilt University labs. Researchers asked a simple question with enormous impact: how can we make driver education adaptive for neurodiverse learners? Their answer is the Vanderbilt research driving simulator you know today—SANDI—purpose-built to support instructors while building confidence and readiness for real-world driving.
From Academic Insight to Everyday Impact
Inside Vanderbilt’s engineering and innovation ecosystem, the team blended robotics, computer science, and behavioral science. Instead of forcing learners to adapt to one-size-fits-all instruction, SANDI adapts to the learner. That philosophy defines the system’s design and still guides every new feature. As a result, the Vanderbilt research driving simulator doesn’t feel experimental; it feels practical, teachable, and effective in real programs.
Evidence-Based Design Meets Real Instruction
SANDI pairs data with clear coaching. Instructors get meaningful information in the moment, while learners get supportive prompts they can use right away. This approach reflects years of research on attention, stress, and learning under changing conditions. Consequently, sessions are structured, repeatable, and measurable. You can track progress lesson by lesson, then adjust plans confidently as students grow.
Advanced Sensors, Real-Time Insights, Better Coaching
What makes the Vanderbilt research driving simulator different is how it connects what learners feel with what they do. SANDI uses non-invasive inputs—eye gaze, heart rate, and skin conductance—to help interpret focus and stress. Then it translates those signals into real-time insights for the instructor. You see more than steering and braking; you see how a learner is responding. Because you can spot overload or distraction early, you can simplify a scenario now, not later. That timely support builds confidence and keeps momentum strong.
Adaptive Scenarios That Match Each Learner’s Path
SANDI’s adaptive scenarios progress step by step. First, learners practice foundational skills like lane position and speed management. Next, they work through traffic patterns, signals, and merging. Finally, they enter more complex conditions such as night driving, adverse weather, and emergency maneuvers. Because the Vanderbilt research driving simulator recalibrates difficulty based on performance and physiological signals, the path never feels too easy or too hard. It feels personal—and that keeps engagement high.
Community-Informed, Learner-First Development
SANDI’s journey didn’t stop at the lab door. The team invited feedback from driving schools, therapists, educators, and families. That community input shaped the user experience for both instructors and learners. You can feel it in the little things: the clarity of the dashboards, the pacing of the challenges, and the way the system encourages learners through setbacks. The outcome is a tool that fits into clinics, classrooms, and training centers with minimal friction.
Built for Instructors as Much as Learners
SANDI gives instructors the controls they asked for. You can watch a live learner view and an instructor dashboard at the same time. You can adjust intensity, slow things down, or layer in complexity as soon as students are ready. Additionally, the Vanderbilt research driving simulator captures objective data you can share with families and teams. Everyone sees the same progress story, which keeps support aligned and next steps clear.
Why This Vanderbilt Research Driving Simulator Matters Now
Independence hinges on safe, confident transportation. For many neurodiverse adolescents and adults, traditional driver’s ed isn’t enough. SANDI adds the structure, repetition, and feedback that make learning stick. It also gives instructors a consistent framework they can apply across different profiles, from autistic and ADHD learners to students with anxiety or sensory sensitivities. With SANDI, the path from practice to permit—and from permit to license—becomes more accessible and less stressful.
Designed to Fit Your Program
Because SANDI was engineered with real deployments in mind, it works with standard VR hardware and integrates smoothly into existing training workflows. Session setup is straightforward. Data reviews are simple. Most importantly, instructors don’t need to become data scientists to benefit. The Vanderbilt research driving simulator turns complex signals into clear, usable guidance that supports every lesson plan.
A Partner in Readiness, Not a Replacement for the Road
SANDI won’t replace behind-the-wheel instruction; it makes it more successful. Learners practice decision-making in a safe environment before facing unpredictable streets. In turn, instructors can focus on skill transfer instead of crisis management. That balance—lab-level precision paired with practical coaching—explains why programs adopt SANDI and keep using it.
Bring SANDI to Your Program
If you’re ready to empower your learners with adaptive, evidence-based driver education, we’re here to help. Let’s map your training goals, choose the right scenarios, and set up your first sessions. Contact us to schedule a demo and learn how SANDI can support your instructors and students from the lab’s insights to a learner’s license.