Wheelnut made the following thought-provoking point in the simulator game thread:
I can imagine much cleverer people than I coming on to suggest that “airline pilots are trained on simulators”, well, yes, they are trained on the aeroplane controls this way, of which there are many systems and backups in the event of failure. Which button does what and why? What would happen if this light came on, what would you do next. Those scenarios are easily taught in a training simulator.
A truck doesn’t need a simulator, a 5 year old could run through the main controls with a new driver
Indeed - however our local vocational college does have available a real simulator - Finland’s only transportable simulator approved for C+E training. It is built into a 45’ artic trailer, and when in use the trailer extends outwards on both sides to about three times the regular width.
It is used (as I understand) for simulating things like emergency situations with fully freighted vehicles.
Here is a link to the English language pages, with some photographs:
I thought it would be better to discuss the value or otherwise of real simulators in a new thread, as the discussion there basically relates to game simulators and is quite picture heavy.
As to my opinion, I have to say I’m not sure. If the thing really feels and responds like an actual wagon, then yes, definitely useful - on the other hand
if it doesn’t give the same ‘seat of the pants’ experience then maybe not.
I’ll have to try and track down someone who’s actually “driven” it and report back…
Back in March 2004, I was invited to be part of a team testing a new Truck Sim at the TRL center in Crowthorne.
It was a full simulator using a Mercedes cab (can’t remember model) and wrap-around screens. It was quite realistic although the graphics where a bit “flat”. The system set you a task, usually ending up backing on to a bay and measured the control inputs. Steering, clutch, brake and throttle use as well as speed and manoeuvring.
The only thing that I found unrealistic was finding a blue screen when you looked out of the window when reversing. Everything else was pretty much spot-on.
We were told the sim would be used for driver training, but I’ve never heard anything about it since then. I don’t know if it was ever commissioned.
The one at TRL looked the same as the one in the link posted by Zetorpilot, but with a Merc cab in a room in a building. As for the “seat of the pants” experience, I felt it did lack that “real” feel. Personally, I didn’t see any real benefit to putting a trainee driver through the simulator and can’t really see a beneficial use for it.
Iggy:
Back in March 2004, I was invited to be part of a team testing a new Truck Sim at the TRL center in Crowthorne.
It was a full simulator using a Mercedes cab (can’t remember model) and wrap-around screens. It was quite realistic although the graphics where a bit “flat”. The system set you a task, usually ending up backing on to a bay and measured the control inputs. Steering, clutch, brake and throttle use as well as speed and manoeuvring.
The only thing that I found unrealistic was finding a blue screen when you looked out of the window when reversing. Everything else was pretty much spot-on.
We were told the sim would be used for driver training, but I’ve never heard anything about it since then. I don’t know if it was ever commissioned.
The one at TRL looked the same as the one in the link posted by Zetorpilot, but with a Merc cab in a room in a building. As for the “seat of the pants” experience, I felt it did lack that “real” feel. Personally, I didn’t see any real benefit to putting a trainee driver through the simulator and can’t really see a beneficial use for it.
I have been down to TRL a few years back,it was as they an experience…It was German made and much of the sofware was German,as people say even a young kid could drive it,perhaps even better than an pro driver…our perception is above what the computor…
