Roesch

LEONARDO DA VINCI Partnership

Project SIMTEB Simulator-based training for European bus drivers Transfer and implementation of an innovative training concept for drivers and trainers in initial and continuing education organizations in the public transport in Europe

Eco-Driver training in a bus Simulator: Experiences from an Evaluation Study in Germany

Lutz Roesch, TT-C Training Technology-Consulting GmbH



SIMTEB : Simulator-based training for European bus drivers 8 Partners from: Finland, Austria, UK, France and Germany Working fields: • Training organisation • Researcher, • Developer, • Bus company • Consulting organisation



SIMTEB - Main focus: Transfer and implement a simulator based training concept for bus drivers Start: December 2011 Tasks (among others): • Making a simulator based training concept for eco-driving • Testing the concept in Finland and in Germany



Time Topic Method / Content Remarks 8:00 – 8:15 Welcome / Overview /

Organisational FlipChart / prepared papers

8:15 – 8:45 Round of introduction Individual each participant e.g. collecting expectations

8:45 – 8:50 Explaining the simulator Trainer – at the simulator 8:50 – 9:30 familiarization drive Each student e.g. 4-5 min. Easy to drive task 9:30 – 9:45 Break 9:45 – 11.00 Driving the first ride Each student about 10 min. Observing tasks for

other students 11:00 – 12:30 Eco driving - Golden rules Fuel costs, CO2 and NOX,

effectiveness of engine, driving resistence, Golden rules

Discussions with students are necessary!



Time Topic Method / Content Remarks 12:30 – 13:00 Lunch

13:00 – 13:15 Golden rules – driving a bus

Repeating

13:15 – 14:15 Driving experience (Driving the second ride)

Students have different tasks driving the simulator

Observing – Evaluating

14:15 – 14:30 Break 14:30 – 15:40 Driving the third ride Each student about 10 min.

including individual debriefing Observing tasks for other students

15:40 – 16:00 Conclusions Lessons learned



The golden rules: • Anticipate Traffic flow – with different kinds of road shapes • Maintain steady speed – at low rpm • Shift up early • Decelerate smoothly, use momentum • Switch engine to “neutral” when stopping longer



• 1 day training

• Trainer is not substituted by simulator!

• Better: Simulator is a tool for Trainer Controls how, when, what for Simulation is used

• Trainer must have special instructions (training) for using the simulator



Using a simulator for bus driver training means: • No travelling to an exercise area • No uncontrolled traffic • Only “electrical” pollution • Repeatability of exercises • Recording / Replay of Exercises • Recording / Evaluating driving parameter (Speed, rpm, …)



Scenario description (example): Course Situation Tasks

Start The bus is waiting at the bus stop. Engine is running. 3 lanes in direction of travel. Pedestrian crossing 10 meters in front of the bus. While passengers aboard traffic light ahead shows green. When the last passenger boarded traffic light switches to red. Light turns green, bus leaves the bus stop and threaded into traffic. Lane change on straight track. After approximately 200m the bus approaches the bus stop. The bus stops.

Driver waits at the bus stop until traffic light is switching to green. (saves a starting at the traffic light) Gear - neutral. Traffic monitoring during threading, fast acceleration and holding the speed (constant and steady speed). Coasting when approaching bus stop (use momentum), smooth braking.

Boarding at bus stop. Traffic light 50 m ahead on red, while boarding light switches to green.

Gear - neutral.





Evaluation study: • First group: 4 days with a total of 23 drivers

• Second group (control group): 1 day with 7 drivers

• Detailed analysis: Cranfield University



Ride 1 Ride 2de Ride 1 Ride 2 Ride 1 Ride 2 Ride 1 Ride 2 Ride 1 Ride 2 Ride 1 Ride 2

driving time total (min) 06:53 06:42 08:24 08:50 06:13 06:50 09:14 09:44 08:29 08:00 08:06 05:32

driving distance (km) 1,90 1,72 1,73 1,70 1,72 1,72 1,72 1,72 1,72 1,72 1,72 1,72

average speed (km/h) 16,5 15,4 12,3 11,5 16,6 15 11,2 10,6 12,2 12,9 12,7 18,6

fuel consumption total (l) 0,96 0,83 0,89 0,84 0,90 0,78 0,98 0,88 0,97 0,73 1,07 0,79

average fuel Comsuption (liters per 10 50,4 48,1 51,7 49,2 52,5 45,5 56,8 51,3 56,6 42,1 62,2 45,8

CO2 used (kg) 2,5 2,2 2,4 2,2 2,4 2,1 2,6 2,4 2,6 1,9 2,8 2,1

braking 26 28 47 37 31 45 43 48 39 32 19 20

stopping (full stopp) 6 5 11 9 8 6 8 8 8 6 9 4

Driver 5 Driver 6Driver 1 Driver 2 Driver 3 Driver 4

Example of collected data



Results / Impressions

• Most drivers took the same or even less driving time for 1st and 3rd ride

• Many drivers reduced braking • Most drivers reduced full stops • A generic cabin with monitors for the visual system is fully

accepted • A motion system is nice but not need to have • Sound is important to support the “feeling” • A good planned scenario, fitting to the golden rules, is

important for eco-driving lessons • Exchange of experience is important



Remarks from drivers • Getting familiar with the simulator is important • Drivers wish to repeat the training after 6 month to deepen

their knowledge • Very easy for testing different driving behaviours • Simulator has a really added value for the training • Traffic situations are very realistic • Comparing 1st and 3rd drive helps to improve behaviour



Results / Conclusions • Eco driving training using a bus simulator is reasonable • Trainers must be prepared well on using simulator • Student results show a change in behaviour within the

training • Students evaluate the training as helpful and diverting

(not to say amusing) • Combination of theory and practical parts makes the

training exciting



SIMTEB will present and discuss its results at the final conference in Vienna, 27th of September 2013

(Language: English, No Conference Fee)