Final Report Summary - TRAIN-ALL (Integrated System for driver TRaining and Assessment using Interactive education tools and New training curricula for ALL modes of road transport) The TRAIN-ALL project developed a computer-based training system for different land-based drivers cohorts, that integrates multimedia software (s/w), driving simulator, virtual driving simulator and on-board vehicle sensors, into a single modular platform. The core development focused on driving simulators, with the realisation of several prototypes. New simulation tools have been developed for motorcycle riding, passenger car (both for novices and emergency drivers) and truck driving. The new tools include also virtual reality (VR)-based immersive simulation tools, as well as a common architecture and a modular simulator design process for multi-user, group training.The main objectives of TRAIN-ALL were:- to prioritise a concise set of training scenarios for each driver type, for which the use of computer-based training is recommended, with emphasis on risk awareness and emergency handling, covering all levels of driver behaviour (control, manoeuvring, strategic and behavioural); - to agree on a minimum set of technical specifications for the development of computer-based systems for driver training and assessment; - to benchmark existing and emerging technologies, such as multimedia s/w, driving simulators, virtual and augmented reality based simulation, etc., against the actual needs and priorities of different categories of drivers; - to develop a common and concise ontological framework for CBT tools functionalities and scenarios that will guarantee interoperability and transferability of scenarios and data between different CBT tools, and will also support collaborative simulation applications; - to develop a cost-efficient and valid methodology to assess simulator reliability and fidelity and correlate it to actual driving behaviour; - to employ intelligent agents technology in order to develop CBT's with ambient intelligence (AmI)-based traffic participants, representing with high reliability a natural traffic environment; - to develop cooperative training scheme (trainee-trainee and trainer-trainee) and co-driver training (for emergency vehicle co-pilots) scenarios and tools, allowing multiple trial-time interactions and even remote presence; - to develop the appropriate P2P tools to allow CBT's networking and even real-time collaboration, as well as central data storage and processing for statistical and research reasons; - to develop a virtual instructor module, that will allow autonomous and cost-effective multi-user training by CBT's; - to develop guidelines and specifications on simulator sickness aversion in CBT's design and operation; - to develop and test the method of adaptive training, where the training sequence is tailored to the specific needs of a trainee; - to develop appropriate training schemes and scenarios for CBT in the use of new driver assistance and information systems (ADAS and IVICS); - to use an existing motorcycle simulator, and adapt it accordingly, satisfying TRAIN-ALL s/w and scenarios requirements; - to develop cost-effective, high fidelity, low dizziness and modular driving simulator tools for passenger cars that focus on higher order driver skills and include different levels and scenarios for different user groups (novice drivers, drivers of emergency vehicles; both for training and assessment); - to develop cost-effective, high fidelity, low dizziness and modular simulator tools for trucks that are adequate for different user groups and include training on crisis management scenarios and assessment protocols; - to develop virtual driving simulator tools for passenger cars, that combine cost-effectiveness, high fidelity, low dizziness and modularity, as a viable option to the actual simulators for all-around, wide angle or reversing scenarios, as well as simulation of emerging driver aids; - to develop new, improved training and assessment curricula for drivers (of passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks and emergency vehicles), that are modular and maximise the transfer of knowledge and experience from one group to the other; - to evaluate the viability, usability and usefulness of the above developed tools and curricula in 10 pilots Europe-wide; - to estimate the potential road safety and other social benefits of the developed training tools and curricula and define their cost-benefit (for developers) and cost-efficiency (for society); - to produce detailed exploitation and business plans for the developed computer based systems.There was a separate simulator for both motorcycles and trucks. An innovative motorcycle simulator, pre-existing at INRETS, has been tuned in order to test if such a tool can be used for the training of novice riders. Based on the existing truck simulator TRUST of THALES, developments extended the simulator, along the TRAIN-ALL specifications, including additional TRAIN-ALL modules.For the improvement of simulator-based training possibilities for novice police emergency drivers three different emergency vehicle simulator prototypes were created within TRAIN-ALL by WIVW/IZVW and BPP. The TRAIN-ALL modules that were implemented are the following:- co-driving, cooperative and group training; - P2P internet technologies; - dynamic scenario management; - enhanced reality; - adaptive training. Each module featured a set of scenarios with driving situations targeting emergency drivers. The combination of existing simulators, modules and scenarios for emergency vehicle drivers resulted in emergency vehicle simulator prototypes.WIVW and Foerst have created three passenger simulator prototypes for novice drivers. Different modules and scenarios were implemented. FOERST developed software for the AmI in driving simulation, virtual instructor, ADAS/IVICS simulation, enhanced reality. These modules have been integrated in two passenger-car simulator prototypes. In order to meet the demands of the modules the simulator-operating system of FOERST was enhanced. This basic work comprised graphical improvements, interfaces, menu functions, various core functions and enhancements of the simulator script language and country specific adaptations. The hardware of the prototypes was already pre-existing simulators which are owned by VTI (Sweden) and CERTH/HIT (Greece).The last prototype of TRAIN-ALL was the multi-purpose driving simulator. With the development of this simulator lower operation costs for the driving schools can be achieved as a result of a low price in combination with a multi-purpose usage by different groups of users. The car simulator is scaled up without major changes to the technical system. The software is changed so that different groups can use the simulator. With this approach the time to market is reduced and the market price is kept low. This is done by changing the position of the steering wheel, chair, mirrors and driver position in the graphic engine The virtual instructor and the dynamic scenario management module have been implemented.To ensure that the new simulator modules perform as planned, a technical verification of these modules, rather than of the simulator as a whole, has been performed. In line with the ISO/IEC 9126 norm for the assessment of the quality of software, the reliability and functionality of the new modules were used as central dimensions of the technical verification. Overall, findings suggested that a technical verification can be conducted successfully with a self-certification process. The example of the MC simulator that was used in the demonstration pilot shows that there is a need to further develop the simulator to reach the training goals. Simulator sickness is always a threat to the use of simulators. However, the overall prevalence seems to be quite low compared to other studies.The introduction and deployment of the TRAIN-ALL platform is expected to have the following impact: - improved road safety by delivering better drivers' training and assessment; - improved road safety simply by less need for on-the-road training;- reduction of traffic volume and pollution in cities by less on-the-road training as well as through ecological / economical training promotion by the new training tools; - creation of invaluable statistical record of drivers' behaviour through the log files of the computer-based tools; - reduction of the stress levels of trainers and trainees, induced by actual on-road training of complex situations; - reduction in training time and cost; - new employment opportunities and competitive advantage for the European training tools industry.Further impacts involve contribution to standardisation activities and policy developments for the enhancement of road safety. Related documents Final Report - TRAIN-ALL (Integrated System for driver TRaining and Assessment using Interactive education tools and New training curricula for ALL modes of road transport)
