MicroVRide: Exploring 4-in-1 Virtual Reality Micromobility Simulator

2026-04-12

AI Summary

This study addresses the lack of safe and controllable environments for systematically investigating riding behaviors and user experiences across diverse micromobility vehicles—such as electric scooters, Segways, and unicycles. To this end, we present the first modular, high-fidelity virtual reality simulation platform supporting four classes of micromobility devices. The system employs a unified architecture that integrates vehicle-specific physical models and control mapping mechanisms, enabling seamless transitions between vehicle types with minimal hardware reconfiguration. By providing an immersive and low-risk simulation environment, our platform substantially expands the research frontier in micromobility human–computer interaction. A preliminary user study (N=12) demonstrates the system’s feasibility and reveals significant differences in user experience across vehicle types.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Simulating Human Behavior
• Humans and AI: Game Design — Virtual Humans, NPCs and Autonomous Characters
• Application Domains: Mobility, Driving & Flight

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User modeling and simulation for interactive and conversational systems
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Virtualization and resource management in Web systems and infrastructures
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy

Abstract

Micromobility vehicles, such as e-scooters, Segways, skateboards, and unicycles, are increasingly adopted for short-distance travel due to their low weight and low emissions. Despite their growing popularity, we lack controlled, low-risk environments to study rider experiences and performance. While virtual reality (VR) simulators offer a promising approach by reducing safety risks and providing immersive experiences, micromobility simulators remain largely underexplored. We introduce MicroVRide, a modular 4-in-1 VR micromobility simulator that supports e-scooters, Segways, electric unicycles, and one-wheeled skateboards on a single platform. The simulator preserves vehicle-specific physical constraints and control metaphors, enabling the study of diverse riding behaviors with minimal hardware reconfiguration. We contribute the simulator design and report a preliminary within-subject study (N = 12) that demonstrates feasibility and reveals distinct experiential profiles across vehicles.

Problem

• micromobility
• virtual reality simulator
• rider experience
• safety risk
• controlled environment

Innovation

• virtual reality simulator
• micromobility
• modular design
• vehicle-specific control
• immersive experience