Training railroad engineers with virtual simulators 

The VR simulators truly replicate the work environments and real situations that these operators have to face daily. It is an interactive and realistic training; thanks to XR (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality) technologies, machinists can enter a full-scale cabin and learn how it works. In addition, they can travel the same routes as in the real world, which allows them to become perfectly familiar with all the sections of the journey and thus be able to anticipate possible setbacks that may arise during the trip. 

Training of maintenance operators 

Virtual Reality is not only great to prepare engineers for their workplace, but maintenance operators of both the trains themselves and the tracks and facilities can use this same technology to train in certain maintenance tasks. 

On the other hand, they can take advantage of Augmented Reality to obtain instructions that are easier to understand and to follow than traditional paper or PDF manuals. The future of technical process documentation is not PDFs, it is interactive manuals, which can include 3D guidance instructions or simply instructions with texts, instructions and images. 

When a task is digitized and converted into 3D content, the same content can be used to train operators, in this case using Virtual Reality or simply a PC, and later during the execution of the tasks take advantage of that same content to obtain guidance instructions, either with Augmented Reality technology or with onhand devices, like a smartphone or tablet. 

Virtual Reality: the best option for training railroad engineers 

In recent years, the demand for train drivers has grown considerably. The development of railway infrastructure, the increase in freight transport by train or the growing number of passengers for train travel has caused significant growth in this sector and in turn has generated the need to hire new railroad engineers.  

In this context, companies in this sector are betting on the implementation of XR (Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality) technologies to train future employees in the railway market. They look for the best tools to create a pool of machinists trained with the latest technologies to achieve higher quality training in less time. 

Each student has a personalized training plan in virtual environments to train their driving skills, which translates into an interesting and motivating practice for railway operators as their abilities are tested in solving mechanical problems and safety of all passengers. 

Advantages of training with Virtual Reality 

In recent years we have witnessed important changes in the training processes of professionals. Until now, employee training depended largely on the system used by the instructor. However, we have come a long way since then. Thanks to technologies such as Virtual Reality, it is possible to learn through interaction in real simulations. 

Thanks to these Virtual Reality simulators,  companies in the railroad industry can view routes, driving cabins or places such as train stations, which can be recreated so that train drivers can train their skills and abilities in a safe environment. Another important advantage is to be able to reproduce possible incidents as many times as desired: accidents, fires, adverse weather situations, technical malfunctions… 

In this sense, we can say that the main advantages of training with Virtual Reality are the following: 

• Improved learning curve 
• Reduction of time spent by instructors 
• Avoid the use of real machinery, saving travel and million-dollar investments 

• Improved motivation for training and operator satisfaction 
• Access to training content at any time, place and from any device (PC, mobile phone, tablet , AR, MR or VR headsets) 
• Avoid human errors and accidents 
• Self-assessment capacity for more autonomous training 

What are the Virtual Reality contents like? 

One of the many advantages that XR technologies bring us is that you can create as much content the the scenarios you would like to recreate in a simulation. It is the railway companies that can create and manage their own work sessions. In this case, from train cabins in which to learn how to drive a machine to railway stations to improve the traveler’s experience. 

Another common use of these technologies is to be able to show the final finish of a train model, both interior and exterior, in a hyper-realistic way, being able to see exactly what a train is going to be like before starting any prototyping or construction phase. It can also be used to train and offer advanced support and task monitoring in maintenance operations. We therefore see that Extended Reality technologies (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality) can help the entire value chain of the railway sector. 

All experiences contemplate the possible problems that may occur while traveling, whether they are the brakes, speed control, the door locking system or any electrical or mechanical failure. Each of these exercises can be repeated as many times as required until the operator is fully trained in the use of the machine. 

All the elements necessary to make the journey of a train trip are recreated in 3D, such as tunnels, signals, tracks or stations. Also the particularities of each machine and even the movements of people. Now, to obtain the best results, it is necessary to count on experts in XR technologies who guarantee the correct implementation of these technologies in companies. 

At ARSOFT we are specialized in the development of Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality technologies. We have developed the most advanced authoring platform on the market for the Industrial sector, EyeFlow, designed for the simple digitalization of industrial processes. 

Important national and international companies are already using EyeFlow in their employee training processes, with excellent results. 

Without a doubt the future is in many ways virtual, the key is knowing how to invest appropriately.