A virtual reality (VR) troubleshooting system was recently put into operation for the Shuozhou-Huanghua Railway. The system breaks time and space restrictions on troubleshooting inspection and related training. Its operation marks that the train crew has entered a new era of team building.
A crew member uses VR troubleshooting system to locate malfunctions of locomotives.
The VR troubleshooting system combines computer simulation and VR technology to build a real-life three-dimensional model. A virtual space with visual, auditory and touching functionalities is created, enabling train crew to respond to trouble emergencies, conduct troubleshooting inspections, and fix abnormalities during train operation in a reproduced virtual working environment. The coach can set up close to 100 types of electric appliance and locomotive malfunctions in a driving simulator. The trainees log into a virtual operation system where they can locate and fix the trouble and learn to use protective devices including sound and torch signals and short-circuit copper wire. The system satisfies frequent and targeted drilling needs of train crew members.
To satisfy the demand of day-to-day training for crew members and that for locomotive drivers, locomotives had to be suspended from normal service in the past. The use of the VR system makes the suspension unnecessary, thus reducing the non-operation standby time of locomotives and improving the operation efficiency of heavy-haul locomotives.
