EP3640114A1

EP3640114A1 - Adjustable railway vehicle simulator and joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers

Info

Publication number: EP3640114A1
Application number: EP18210434.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chan Woo Park; Eun Kyung Chae; Ducko SHIN; Sang-Log KWAK; Jong Bae Wang; Hyun Seung Jung
Original assignee: Korea Railroad Research Institute KRRI
Current assignee: Korea Railroad Research Institute KRRI
Priority date: 2018-10-17
Filing date: 2018-12-05
Publication date: 2020-04-22

Abstract

Disclosed are an adjustable railway vehicle simulator, a method of evaluating a driver machine interface (DMI) for a railway vehicle driving cab using the same, a joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers, and a method of evaluating a joint training for railway driving-related workers using the same. The adjustable railway vehicle simulator includes a storage unit configured to store a library corresponding to a device installed in a railway vehicle driving cab and data regarding a standard specification of the device; a display configured to display the library in an interface form; an input unit configured to call the library stored in the storage unit and receive a control command from a user to display the called library on the display; and a control unit configured to call the library according to the control command received through the input unit, output the called library to a designated position in the display in an interface form, and check whether the library matches a standard specification of the arranged interface, wherein the input unit includes a touchscreen.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0124038, filed on October 17, 2018 and Application No. 10-2018-0124039, filed on October 17, 2018 , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to an adjustable railway vehicle simulator, a method of evaluating a driver machine interface (DMI) for a railway vehicle driving cab using the same, a joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers, and a method of evaluating a joint training for railway driving-related workers using the same, and more particularly, to an adjustable railway vehicle simulator, a method of evaluating a DMI for a railway vehicle driving cab using the same, a joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers, and a method of evaluating a joint training for railway driving-related workers using the same which are capable of providing a rail vehicle driving cab with enhanced driver convenience and system stability and capable of training and evaluating non-technical task performance capability between railway driving-related workers.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Generally, a driving cab of a railway vehicle is a place where control is performed so that the railway vehicle may be safely operated while various kinds of information is transmitted or received to or from a control room, a ground facility, etc. To this end, various devices, such as an instrument panel, a display, and a manipulation device, which are necessary for a driver to understand driving situations while operating the railway vehicle are provided inside the driving cab. However, when the aforementioned various driving cab devices are misplaced in the driving cab or are not efficiently designed, driver convenience and system stability may deteriorate, thereby hindering safe operation. Therefore, the design of a driver machine interface (DMI) of the driving cab may be a very important factor for railway safety. Conventionally, however, it takes a lot of time and expense to manufacture a driving cab in the form of a prototype when the cab is designed, and also it is difficult to evaluate the manufactured cab and to produce the cab again in consideration of a result of the evaluation. As a result, the driving cab of the railway vehicle manufactured according to the related art is often insufficient in user convenience or system stability.
In the current system, a railway engine driver, a railway crew, a railway controller, and a signal handler who are responsible for railway operation safety are selected for each field, and training and practice based on individual duties are conducted independently for each group. That is, in various accidents, disorders, and dangerous situations, education of railway-related workers with respect to individual correct situation awareness, danger assessment, decision making, and compliance, group (team)-based joint training such as information exchange, communication, and cooperation between trainers or workers, and evaluation thereof are not performed. In particular, there is no program to verify human performance based on non-technical skill (NTS).
In this regard, individual simulators are used while a railway engine driver license is acquired and while controller qualification requirements are obtained, but actually, education training and evaluation are conducted, focusing on only technical functions of a corresponding duty required for a handling/operation or driving or control or for an action for malfunction. For example, a personal training simulator (PTS) for a railway engine driver is utilized to intensively and repeatedly train trainees to master driving rules, driving operations, and handling functions during start, operation, and stop of railway vehicles through a driving instrument panel, an operating environment video, and training instruction screen (a training scenario). Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a full-type simulator (FTS) is utilized to compose a driving image (a track, a platform, a railway signal, a turnout, etc.) and a driving cab (a steering wheel, a display, mounted products, etc.), train trainees to master driving duties in normal and abnormal conditions and technical functions such as actions for vehicle malfunction according to a training scenario by means of a trainer control board, and perform education and evaluation on a driver license acquisition process including some emergency response capabilities such as an accident reporting or an information exchange through conversations with a trainer.
In addition, a control-specific (signal-specific) simulator is utilized to train trainees to master driving control tasks such as operation plan processing and driving path control and actions and abilities against abnormality such as signal failure and controlled manual block system fault and also partially utilized to perform training and evaluation on emergency response capabilities such as railway vehicle protection and driving arrangement in the event of an accident or disorder. That is, a conventional driving simulator just focuses on repetitive proficiency of countermeasures and functions necessary to perform individual duties and thus mainly evaluates only technical functions of performing individual duties by recording and analyzing successes and failures of manipulation and handling in response to defined duty conditions. Accordingly, the conventional driving simulator does not provide an individual feedback for improving human performance and a post-analysis on causes or background factors of human errors or violation behaviors. Therefore, according to the conventional technology, it is not possible to provide objective assessment and feedback on human performance associated with individual NTS-based safety duty performance ability, including appropriate danger awareness/forecasting, decision making, compliance, or workload management when a new dangerous situation or an error occurs. Also, according to the conventional technology, it is essential to maintain the fairness of the application level of a training/evaluation scenario and acquire objectivity of the evaluation because a trainer controls and issues scenarios for accidents, disorders, and dangerous situations and subjectively evaluates the ability to perform safety duties on a personal basis through questioning/answering and behavior observation for the stepwise application of an emergency response procedure and the appropriateness of an action. In addition, the conventional driving simulator has facilities/devices installed or fixed therein to handle or manipulate a specific vehicle such that it is not possible to change driving cab hardware and training details according to selection of a different vehicle type. Thus, a simulator has to be provided and operated for each vehicle type.
The background art of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0074060 (entitled "Apparatus for Simulating Train Operation and System for Simulating Train Operation Comprising That Apparatus" and published on July 5, 2012).

SUMMARY

The present invention is designed to solve the aforementioned problems. One aspect of the present invention is to enhance user convenience and system stability by simulating a railway vehicle driving cab, evaluating the simulated railway vehicle driving cab, feeding a result of the evaluation back, and reflecting the feedback to the driving cab.
Also, the present invention is intended to allow railway driving-related workers to freely select a train type, an operating track, and the like to perform similar experience and training on a railway accident, a disorder, and a dangerous situation.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable railway vehicle simulator including a storage unit configured to store a library corresponding to a device installed in a railway vehicle driving cab and data regarding a standard specification of the device; a display configured to display the library in an interface form; an input unit configured to call the library stored in the storage unit and receive a control command from a user to display the called library on the display; and a control unit configured to call the library according to the control command received through the input unit, output the called library to a designated position in the display in an interface form, and check whether the library matches a standard specification of the arranged interface, wherein the input unit includes a touchscreen.
The control unit may change at least one of a position, an angle, and a form of the interface according to a method through which a touch is input through the touchscreen.
When the interface is dragged through the touchscreen, the control unit may move the position of the interface to a target position of the dragging.
When both sides of the interface are multi-touched and simultaneously dragged through the touchscreen, the control unit may change the angle or form of the interface according to a direction of the dragging.
When one side of the interface is touched and another side of the interface is dragged through the touchscreen, the control unit may change the form of the interface around a touched point in a direction of the dragging.
The display may have multiple displays disposed to face users, and at least one of the displays may be partitioned into a plurality of regions so that different interfaces are displayed.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of evaluating a driver machine interface (DMI) for a railway vehicle driving cab using an adjustable railway vehicle simulator, the method including steps of: (a) a control unit receiving a driving cab DMI model selected by a user; (b) the control unit verifying the selected driving cab DMI model through comparison to a driving cab layout design criterion; (c) the control unit receiving information regarding a new device to be placed in the driving cab from the user and registering the received information in a library; (d) the control unit calling a library selected by the user from between a pre-registered library and the library registered in step (c) according to the user's input, placing the library in the driving cab DMI model, and outputting the library to the display in an interface form; (e) the control unit verifying the interface through comparison to a standard specification; and (f) the control unit evaluating the verified driving cab DMI on the basis of the user's input value.
When an error occurs in any one of steps (b) to (f), the previous steps may be re-performed through a change in design to derive an improvement.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers, the joint training simulator including a storage unit having libraries stored therein into which at least one of a vehicle, an event, and a scenario is objectified using virtual engineering; multiple user simulators configured to output a library selected by a manager from among the libraries to a display in an interface form and transmit a user's input value to the interface; and an integrated management simulator configured to receive a first user's input value transmitted from a first user simulator among the multiple user simulators, transmit the first user's input value to a second user simulator, receive a second user's input value corresponding to the first user's input value through the second user simulator, and evaluate a response of the second user, wherein the integrated management simulator recombines the libraries according to the input value received from the first user simulator.
When the input value received from the first user simulator satisfies a predetermined scenario creation condition, the integrated management simulator may recombine the libraries to generate a new scenario.
The integrated management simulator may recombine the libraries on the basis of an input value received with the highest priory from the first user simulator, and users who serve through the first user simulator may play the same role.
The integrated management simulator may check whether the second user's input value matches duty determination criterion data stored in the storage unit.
The second user simulator may output libraries corresponding to different events or scenarios to the display in an interface form according to the first user's input value received from the integrated management simulator.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of evaluating a joint training for railway driving-related workers using a joint training simulator for the railway driving-related workers, the method including steps of: (a) an integrated management simulator calling a library for a vehicle, an event, or a scenario selected by a manager and outputting the library to a display of a first user simulator in an interface form; (b) the first user simulator receiving a first user's input value for the interface and transmitting the first user's input value to the integrated management simulator; (c) the integrated management simulator outputting the first user's input value to a display of a second user simulator in an interface form; (d) the second user simulator receiving a second user's input value corresponding to the first user's input value output in the interface form and transmitting the second user's input value to the integrated management simulator; and (e) the integrated management simulator checking whether the second user's input value matches duty determination criterion data.
In step (d), the second user simulator may output libraries corresponding to different events or scenarios to the display in an interface form according to the first user's input value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a full-type driving simulator according to the related art;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an adjustable railway vehicle simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of moving an interface through dragging according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of tilting an interface through multi-touching according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of transforming an interface through dragging and touching simultaneously according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of transforming an interface by dragging in the opposite directions according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of evaluating a driver machine interface (DMI) for a railway vehicle driving cab according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a virtuous cycle structure of an algorithm and a scenario of the method of evaluating the railway vehicle driving cab DMI shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an implementation of a module for verifying a layout of a driving cab DMI model;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of producing a new driving cab device and registering the created driving cab device in a library;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of matching a new device to a pre-registered driving function;
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of placing a driving cab device in an adjustable manner;
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a driving cab DMI evaluation simulator;
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a driving cab DMI checklist and an aspect of evaluating and controlling a driving cab DMI;
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a device objectified in a user simulator shown in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an implementation of the joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers shown in FIG. 15;
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an interface that is output to a display of the user simulator in a touchscreen manner;
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a joint training/evaluation scenario for railway driving-related workers;
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a training/evaluation method according to the scenario of FIG. 19; and
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a process of creating a new scenario and performing training according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an adjustable railway vehicle simulator, a method of evaluating a driver machine interface (DMI) for a railway vehicle driving cab using the same, a joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers, and a method of evaluating a joint training for railway driving-related workers using the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, thicknesses of lines or sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience. Also, the following terms are defined considering functions of the present invention, and may be differently defined depending on a user, the intent of an operator, or a custom. Therefore, the terms should be defined based on overall contents of the specification.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an adjustable railway vehicle simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, an adjustable railway vehicle simulator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to evaluate a driver machine interface (DMI) of a railway vehicle driving cab by outputting various devices such as an image output unit, an instrument panel, and a manipulation device provided inside the railway vehicle driving cab to a display in the form of an interface, allowing the devices to be freely placed, and verifying the placement through comparison to a standard specification. The adjustable railway vehicle simulator 100 includes a storage unit 110, a display 120, an input unit 130, and a control unit 140.
In the storage unit 110, libraries corresponding to the various devices installed in the railway vehicle driving cab are stored. In detail, pre-registered libraries are stored in the storage unit 110, and libraries of new driving cab devices that are not stored in the storage unit 110 may be additionally produced and registered by a user. In this case, by matching the libraries of the driving cab devices that are newly registered in the storage unit 110 to a driving function of a similar driving cab device from among the pre-registered driving cab libraries, the new libraries may be operated during driving operation on the simulator.
Meanwhile, data on the standard specification of the driving cab devices and a DMI checklist for the railway vehicle driving cab as well as the libraries are stored in the storage unit 110. The data on the standard specification of the driving cab devices is used as a basis for comparison and verification of the suitability of the interface output to the display, and the DMI checklist for the railway vehicle driving cab is used to finally evaluate the stability and user convenience of the driving cab DMI after the placement of the interface is complete.
The display 120 may include a plurality of displays, each of which is configured to display libraries called through a user's manipulation of the input unit 130 and is placed to face the user.
In this case, at least one of the plurality of displays 120 is capable of being tilted and moving in three axial directions (an x axis, a y axis, and a z axis), and at least another one may be partitioned into a plurality of regions to display different interfaces.
That is, the user may tilt and move each of the plurality of displays 120 in three axial directions to simulate actual driving environments through the displays 120.
In the above embodiment, the displays 120 themselves have been described as being tilted and moved in three axial directions, but the technical scope of the present invent invention is not limited thereto. In particular, the position, angle, form, size, or the like of the interface may be adjusted according to a user's touch method while the current placement of the displays 120 is maintained. This will be described later.
That is, in the evaluation of the driving cab DMI, a user conducts a trial run of the adjustable railway vehicle simulator 100 to verify user convenience and system stability. The display 120 is configured as described above to implement a trial run environment to be similar to the real environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
For example, an actual driving environment is simulated by outputting driving cab devices placed adjacent to one another in an actual driving cab to partitioned regions of a single display 120 and by outputting driving cab devices separated apart from one another to different displays to move the displays themselves or tilt the displays. Accordingly, according to the present invention, the simulation is possible in the same environment as the real environment, and thus the driving cab DMI may be more accurately evaluated.
Meanwhile, the tilting of the display 120 may be performed by hinging the display 120 to a support stand, and the movement of the display 120 in three axial directions may be implemented by applying a well-known link combination structure to the support stand, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
The input unit 130 may receive a user's control command for controlling libraries and interfaces. That is, the input unit 130 may be manipulated by a user to move and place an interface as well as to select, call, and store a library. The input unit 130 may include, but is not limited thereto, well-known input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a stick-type controller, and a touchscreen.
The control unit 140 calls a library selected by the user through the input unit 130, and outputs the selected library to the display 120 in the form of an interface.
In this case, the interface displayed on the display 120 may be arranged at the user's desired position using a stick-type controller or a user's input value. The input value for the arrangement of the interface may be x and y coordinate values for the size and position of the interface, a rotation angle (deg) of the interface, and the like. When the stick-type controller is used, the user may manually manipulate the stick to move and arrange the interface at a specific position. The interface arranged in this way may be registered or deleted as needed.
The control unit 140 may tilt and move the display 120 in three axial directions. In addition, the control unit 140 may tilt or rotate the interface and also adjust the size of the interface according to a user's touch input through a touchscreen.
For example, the control unit 140 may change at least one of the position, angle, and form of the interface through dragging, multi-touching, or a combination of dragging and touching as the touch of the interface.
FIG. 3 shows an example in which a user touches and drags an interface to move the interface. When the interface is dragged through a touchscreen, the control unit 140 may move the interface to the dragged position. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when a user touches an interface intended to be moved and then drags the interface to a target position, the control unit 140 may move the interface according to the user's dragging.
FIG. 4 shows an example in which an interface is tilted through multi-touching. When both sides of the interface are multi-touched and dragged through a touchscreen at the same time, the angle or form of the interface may be changed according to the dragging direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when a user double-touches an interface intended to be rotated and also rotates the interface in a desired direction, the control unit 140 rotates the interface according to the user's double-touching and rotating.
FIG. 5 shows an example in which an interface is transformed by performing dragging and touching at the same time. When one side of the interface is touched and then the other side of the interface is dragged through a touchscreen, the control unit 140 may transform the interface according to the dragging direction. In this case, the interface is transformed around the touched point.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when a lower portion of the interface is touched and then dragged upward, an upper portion of the interface becomes narrow, and thus a sense of perspective is made to be felt from the interface.
FIG. 6 shows an example in which an interface is transformed by performing dragging in the opposite directions. When both sides of the interface are multi-touched and dragged through a touchscreen at the same time, the angle or form of the interface may be changed according to the dragging direction. That is, as shown in a portion (a) of FIG. 6, when a user touches and then drags both side portions of the interface toward a center of the interface at the same time, the control unit 140 may decrease the width of the interface. On the other hand, when a user touches and drags both side portions of the interface in the width direction of the interface at the same time, the control unit 140 increases the width of the interface. That is, as shown in a portion (b) of FIG. 6, when a user touches and then drags an upper portion and a lower portion of the interface toward the center of the interface at the same time, the control unit 140 may decrease the height of the interface. On the other hand, when the user touches and drags the upper and lower portions of the interface in the height direction of the interface at the same time, the control unit 140 increases the height of the interface.
That is, the control unit 140 may change at least one of the location, angle, and form of the interface depending on the user's touch type to simulate an actual driving environment without tilting and changing the display 120 in three axial directions (the x axis, the y axis, and the z axis) and may modify the simulated driving environment after tilting and changing the display 120 in the three axial directions (the x axis, the y axis, and the z axis). Thus, it is possible to enhance accuracy in simulating the actual driving environment.
The control unit 140 verifies the arranged interface through comparison to standard specification data stored in the storage unit 110, receives a user's input value for the driving cab DMI checklist, and transmits the input value to a manager module. In this case, the user's input value transmitted to the manager module is output to a display so that a manger may check the input value. Accordingly, the manager may evaluate user convenience and system stability for the interface by checking a simulation result of the user with respect to the driving cab DMI checklist through the display.
As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a user may freely configure the driving cab DMI on the simulator and may evaluate the configuration by verifying whether the configuration is valid through comparison to a standard specification.
A method of evaluating a railway vehicle driving cab DMI using the adjustable railway vehicle simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of evaluating a railway vehicle driving cab DMI according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a virtuous cycle structure of an algorithm and a scenario of the method of evaluating the railway vehicle driving cab DMI shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an implementation of a module for verifying a layout of a driving cab DMI model, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of producing a new driving cab device and registering the created driving cab device in a library, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of matching a new device to a pre-registered driving function, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of placing a driving cab device in an adjustable manner, FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a driving cab DMI evaluation simulator, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a driving cab DMI checklist and an aspect of evaluating and controlling a driving cab DMI.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the method of evaluating the railway vehicle driving cab DMI according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a driving cab DMI model selection step (S10), a driving cab layout design criterion comparison and verification step, a driving cab DMI library producing step, a library call and placement step, a standard specification comparison and verification step, and a DMI evaluation step performed by a railway engine driver. Each of the steps will be described in detail below.
First, a driving cab DMI model is selected (S10). The driving cab DMI model is a default interface on which various kinds of driving cab devices are to be placed. A plurality of driving cab DMI models are provided on a vehicle type basis and stored in the storage unit, and called from the storage unit and output to the display according to a user's manipulation of the input unit. In this case, it will be appreciated that a new driving cab DMI model may be separately produced and registered and stored in the storage unit.
Subsequently, requirements (e.g., visibility, chair placement, a driving cab structure, and the like) for the overall layout of the driving cab, such as UIC 651, with respect to the selected driving cab DMI model are tested with reference to a human body standard. The human body standard, which is data regarding human body indices, such as a height, an eye's height, and an arm's length, of users defined in UIC 651, etc., is stored in the storage unit. In addition, the human body standard is a criterion for evaluating user suitability for the overall layout of the driving cab.
In this case, the overall layout of the driving cab is verified through intuitive comparison after a design drawing and a reference drawing of the selected driving cab DMI model are output to a display while being overlapped with each other (S20). In detail, as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit may evaluate the overall layout of the driving cab by overlaying the design drawing (depicted in red) of the driving cab DMI model with a reference drawing (depicted in blue) of UCI 651 and outputting the overlapped drawings to the display. That is, when the design drawing is within an allowable range of the reference drawing, it may be determined that the layout of the driving cab is appropriate. On the other hand, when the design drawing is not within an allowable range of the reference drawing, it may be determined that the layout of the driving cab is not appropriate (S30). In this case, the design of the interface is changed (S40). For reference, points shown in the reference drawing of FIG. 9 represent seat reference positions (SRPs).
Subsequently, a new driving cab device unregistered in a library is simulated and produced on the basis of an image (S50), and the produced new driving cab device is registered in the library. In this case, by matching the driving cab device that is newly registered in the library to a driving function of a pre-registered similar driving cab device, the newly registered driving cab device may be operated during driving operation on the simulator.
In this regard, FIG. 10 shows an example of producing and registering a new device in a library, and FIG. 11 shows an example of matching the device to a driving function. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a main control lever shown in a lower portion of FIG. 10, which is a device used to operate and brake a railway vehicle, performs the same functions as a combined traction/power generation braking control device having an integrated engine driver activity control push button in the driving cab DMI of UIC 612 previously registered in the storage unit, as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, by registering the corresponding control device to match the driving function, the railway vehicle may be operated and braked according to a user's input manipulation during the simulation process.
When the production and registration of the library is completed, a necessary library, which is one of a newly registered library and a previously registered library, is called and placed in the driving cab DMI model output to the display (S60). In this case, the placement of the library may be performed by a user's input value or a stick-type controller. In detail, the placement of the library using the input value may be performed by inputting, to an input screen, the size of a device, x and y coordinates of the location, a rotation angle (deg), and the like. Also, in the placement of the library using the stick-type controller, a user moves a library through manipulation of an x axis and a y axis of the stick-type controller while checking the interface output to the display.
The placed interface is verified through comparison to a standard specification as described below (S70). As a result, whether the placement is appropriate is determined (S80). When there is an error in the placement, the interface may be deleted and then rearranged through a change in design (S90). As reference, FIG. 12 shows an example of placing a driving cab device in an adjustable manner according to the above-described method.
Subsequently, the placed interface is verified by checking whether the interface matches a standard specification, for example, UIC 612, within a category suggested by the standard specification. In this case, whether to match the standard specification of the interface may be verified by producing a training evaluation scenario, reproducing a normal situation, an unusual situation, an accident situation, and the like, and detecting device manipulation.
Last, as shown in FIG. 13, a user conducts a simulator trial run of the produced driving cab DMI and evaluates safety of the driving cab DMI using the driving cab DMI checklist stored in the storage unit so as to test user convenience. In this regard, FIG. 9 illustrates a driving cab DMI checklist and an aspect of evaluating and controlling a driving cab DMI. In detail, the control unit outputs, to the display, the driving cab DMI checklist as shown in FIG. 14. Thus, when a user inputs a specific value, the input value is transmitted to the manager module and output to the display by the control unit. Accordingly, the manager may check the user's input value for the driving cab DMI checklist, evaluate user convenience and system stability of the interface (S100), and output a result of the evaluation (S110).
In this case, when an error occurs in any one of the aforementioned steps, the previous steps may be re-performed through a change in design (S120), and an improvement may be derived (S130) and reflected through such a process.
For example, the driving cab DMI model and the driving cap layout design criterion are compared for verification, or the interface of the driving cab device and the standard specification are compared for verification. When a result of the verification has an error, the design is changed on the basis of a result of the verification and then the process returns to the previous step to derive an improvement, instead of proceeding to the next step. Also, when it is determined that a result of the user evaluating the safety of the driving cab DMI, which is the final step, has an error, an improvement is derived through a change in design. The step of selecting the driving DMI model may be re-performed with the reflected improvement.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a device objectified in a user simulator shown in FIG. 15, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an implementation of the joint training simulator for railway driving-associated workers shown in FIG. 15, and FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an interface that is output to a display of the user simulator in a touchscreen manner.
Referring to FIGS. 15 to 18, a joint training simulator 200 for railway driving-related workers according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit 210, a user simulator 220, and an integrated management simulator 230.
The storage unit 210 has libraries stored therein for a scenario, an event, and a vehicle which are associated with operation of railways.
In detail, the library for the vehicle may be a driving cab layout library for selecting various types of devices and apparatuses on a vehicle type basis, such as operating/controlling devices for starting, accelerating, decelerating and stopping a railway vehicle; handling/manipulating devices such as a pantograph, doors, brakes, lights, and whistles; and broadcasting/communication devices for displaying operation/information indicating information regarding a vehicle state, a driving state, and a failure state, for wired/wireless communication, and for announcement.
Also, the libraries for the event and the scenario may be a operation status library for selecting operation routes (a track, a station, a branch, a railroad crossing, etc.), train work occupation, train work protection, a signaling block system (an automatic blocking system and a substitute blocking system), interlocking (entry/exit and branching), signaling/instructing (departure, stop, and shunt), driving arrangement (instruction, delay, standby, route/order change), and the like according to a path for each route, safety equipment, and operating environments.
The above-described libraries are output to the display of the user simulator 220 in the form of an interface in an appropriate combination of trains, communication equipment, weather conditions, orbital obstacles, and the like according to pre-defined learning objectives and specific requirements of individuals or groups to be evaluated, and are controller by the manager through the integrated management simulator 230.
Meanwhile, the storage unit 210 is included in the integrated management simulator 230 so that the libraries stored in the storage unit 210 may be managed (e.g., registered, stored, modified, deleted, or called) by the integrated management simulator 230.
Also, duty determination criterion data for evaluating a user's response to an event or scenario is stored in the storage unit 210. The duty determination criterion data is a criterion for evaluating accuracy of handling/manipulation, suitability of responding/processing, and adequacy of information/delivery by individual or team in the joint training of railway driving-related workers to be described later. Whether the duty determination criterion data matches the user's input value is determined by the control unit of the integrated management simulator 230.
The user simulator 220 calls a library corresponding to a vehicle, an event, or a scenario selected by the manager through the integrated management simulator 230 from among the libraries stored in the storage unit 210, outputs the called library to the display in the form of an interface, and transmits and receives input information of the manager and the user which are generated during a training process, to and from the integrated management simulator 230.
To this end, the user simulator 220 includes a display for displaying libraries in the form of an interface, an input unit for inputting a user's response to an event or a scenario output to the display, a control unit for calling a library according to the user's operation of the input unit, outputting the library to the display, and transmitting and receiving an input value of a user and an input value of a manager or another user to and from the integrated management simulator 230, and a storage unit for recording and storing the user's input value.
In the user simulator 220 configured as described above, the shapes, functions, and operations of various types of instruments, apparatuses, and devices associated with operation of railway vehicles are objectified into a library using virtual engineering (VE). In this regard, portions (a), (b), and (c) of FIG. 16 show examples in which libraries of operation handling equipment, boarding handling equipment, and control/signal handling equipment are output to the display in the form of an interface, respectively. In this way, the libraries are simulated on an image basis, and functions of instruments, apparatuses, and devices to be simulated are assigned to the simulated libraries so that the libraries are operated on the simulator according to the user's input.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a number of user simulators 220 equal to the number of railway driving-related workers who participate in the joint training are provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, when a crew, a railway engine driver, and a control/signal handler participate in the training, a total of three user simulators 220 are used for the trainees. When the number of trainees changes, the number of user simulators 220 may increase or decrease.
In this case, the crew simulator may display operating conditions according to the vehicle type and route so that control (handling, manipulation) training of departure sign, door handling/manipulation, emergency response, etc. is possible, the engine driver simulator may display driving conditions according to the vehicle type and route so that driving control (handling, manipulation) training such as start, departure, stop, a failure action, and an emergency response of the vehicle is possible, and the controller/signal handler simulator may display control conditions so that control/signal control(handling/manipulation) training such as control/signal handling, driving commands, or message delivery is possible.
As described above, while operation and control conditions of a railway vehicle are displayed in the user simulator 220, the integrated management simulator 230 proposes, to the user through the display, a normal condition, an unusual condition, and an accident condition of a predetermined event or scenario. In this case, when the user inputs a specific value according to the proposed condition, the user simulator 220 automatically detects the user's response, danger awareness, and behavior characteristics, and records and monitors communication, cooperation, workload, and the like.
In this case, the user's input in response to the event or scenario output to the display may be performed through touching. That is, the display of the user simulator 220 is configured as a touchscreen to provide an indication/command such as a failure, a warning, a change in operating order, an escape, a delay, a speed limit, an emergency stop, train protection, work protection, and the like to the touchscreen. When each user inputs a confirmation/response to the corresponding indication/command, the users' corresponding training results are recorded and stored in the storage unit of each user simulator 220. FIG. 18 illustrates a touchscreen-type interface associated with a confirmation/response to vehicle information (in a portion (a) of FIG. 18), a confirmation/response to driving information (in a portion (b) of FIG. 18), and a handling or manipulation of driving control (in portions (c) and (d) of FIG. 18).
The integrated management simulator 230 receives a first user's input value transmitted from a first user simulator among the plurality of user simulators 220 and transmits the first user's input value to a second user simulator. Subsequently, when the second user simulator receives a second user's input value corresponding to the first user's input value and then transmits the second user's input value, the integrated management simulator 230 receives the second user's input value to evaluate the second user's response. In this case, the second user simulator may output libraries corresponding to different events or scenarios to the display in the form of an interface according to the first user's input value received from the integrated management simulator 230, receive the second user's input value corresponding to the first user's input value, and transmit the second user's input value to the integrated management simulator 230.
To this end, the integrated management simulator 230 is configured to include a display for outputting a simulation state of each user simulator 220 to monitor a training situation, an input unit adjusted by a manager to control the simulation state output to the display, a control unit configured to output a library selected by the manager to the display of each user simulator 220, transmit and receive input values of a user and the manager in response to the output, determine whether the user's input value matches duty determination criterion data, and evaluate a training result, and the above-described storage unit 210.
In particular, when an input value received from the user simulator 220 satisfies a predetermined scenario creation condition, the integrated management simulator 230 recombines the libraries to create a new scenario.
That is, when the input value received from the user simulator 220 falls outside a predetermined range, the integrated management simulator 230 recombines the libraries, which configures a scenario according to the corresponding input value, and transmits the recombined libraries to the user simulator 220. Accordingly, the integrated management simulator 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented as an active simulator that generates a new scenario according to the corresponding input value.
Here, the case in which the input value satisfies the scenario creation condition, that is, the input value falls outside the predetermined range may include a case in which data regarding a new vehicle is input, a case in which data regarding a new user's unexpected response is input, or a case in which an unexpected driving environment occurs. In this case, since the integrated management simulator 230 recombines the libraries and creates a new scenario, the manager may perform simulation without re-modifying or changing the scenario, thereby evaluating a training result for the user.
For example, when a library is added as information regarding a new vehicle, a new input value is input to the integrated management simulator 230 through the user simulator 220, and thus the integrated management simulator 230 recombines the libraries to create a new scenario. Also, when data on a new user's response is input and a new user role is assigned, another input value according to the user role is received by the integrated management simulator 230, and thus the integrated management simulator 230 recombines the libraries stored in the storage unit to generate a new scenario.
Also, when multiple users who play the same role serve through the user simulator 220 and the user simulator 220 interoperates with the integrated management simulator 230 through a network, the integrated management simulator 230 recombines the libraries on the basis of an input value received with the highest priority among the input values received by the integrated management simulator 230.
In addition, although the user simulator 220 described above assumes a single person as the user who plays a specific role, a plurality of users may play the same role through the user simulator 220. In this case, the library or scenario may be changed in real time on the basis of the input value input to the integrated management simulator 230, and the users who play the same role may perform corresponding training through the user simulators 220.
The user simulators 220 may be connected to the integrated management simulator 230 over a network, thereby performing integrated training remotely.
The user simulator 220 may include equipment such as a VR goggle and may be implemented in the form of a mobile terminal connected to the integrated management simulator 230 over a network.
The joint training simulator for the railway driving-related workers according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described above. A method of evaluating a joint training for railway driving-related workers using the joint training simulator for the railway driving-related workers according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a joint training/evaluation scenario for railway driving-related workers, FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a training/evaluation method according to the scenario of FIG. 19, and FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a process of creating a new scenario and performing training according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Further referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, first, a user inputs a job type and a personal ID of a railway driving-related worker (a railway engine driver, a railway crew, a railway controller, or a signal handler) to participate in the training through the input unit of the user simulator 220 and selects a training/evaluation unit, that is, whether the training is a personal training or a team training to perform a training/evaluation registration step. In this case, the type of the railway vehicle to be used for the training may also be selected. The user's input value input through the user simulator 220 is transmitted to the integrated management simulator 230.
Subsequently, the integrated management simulator 230 calls a library from the storage unit 210 according to the user's input value and then outputs the called library to the display of each of the user simulators 220 in the form of an interface. Accordingly, an interface for the selected vehicle type and operating situation is output to the display of the user simulator 220, and a normal situation, an unusual situation, an accident situation, or a disorder situation is provided according to a predetermined event or scenario. Accordingly, a duty is assigned to the user.
Subsequently, when the user inputs a response to the display through touching according to the assigned duty, the user simulator 220 transmits the corresponding input value to the integrated management simulator 230.
The integrated management simulator 230 receives a user's input value and transmits the input value to a user simulator 220 of another user associated with the duty. In this case, the user simulator 220 of the other user may output libraries corresponding to a different event or scenario to the display in the form of an interface according to the user's input value.
Subsequently, when the other user inputs a specific value to the user simulator 220 in accordance with the received input value or the output different event or scenario, the user simulator 220 transmits the input value to the integrated management simulator 230. In this case, the user's confirmation and response to the assigned duty are recorded and stored in the storage unit of each of the user simulators 220.
Also, the integrated management simulator 230 evaluates the response of each user on the basis of the received input value. The evaluation of the user's response is made on the basis of whether the user's input value matches personal duty determination criterion data or team training/evaluation determination criterion data stored in the storage unit 210. During the team training/evaluation, peer review may be performed by other teams at the same time. Through the peer review, NTS element-specific behavior indices (positive/negative) may be evaluated, written, and fed back to a trainee to be evaluated.
According to whether the input value received from the user simulator 220 satisfies the predetermined scenario creation condition, the integrated management simulator 230 may recombine libraries to create a new scenario and may perform training using the created new scenario.
Referring to FIG. 21, first, the integrated management simulator 230 receives the input value received from the user simulator 220 (S10).
Subsequently, the integrated management simulator 230 determines whether the input value input from the user simulator 220 satisfies the predetermined scenario creation condition (S20). Here, the case in which the input value satisfies the scenario creation condition, that is, the input value falls outside the predetermined range may include a case in which data regarding a new vehicle is input, a case in which data regarding a new user's unexpected response is input, or a case in which an unexpected driving environment occurs.
Meanwhile, when the input value input from the user simulator 220 satisfies the scenario creation condition, the integrated management simulator 230 recombines the libraries to create a new scenario (S30).
When a new scenario is created by recombining the libraries, each of the user simulators 220 calls the newly created scenario and then performs training using the corresponding scenario (S40).
In this way, when the training is performed by the user simulator 220, the integrated management simulator 230 evaluates accuracy of handling/manipulation of equipment, suitability of response/processing, and adequacy of information/delivery by individual or team using duty determination criterion data for evaluating the user's response to the scenario (S50).
According to an aspect of the present invention, by freely arranging various driving cabin devices on a simulator to simulate a driver machine interface (DMI) for a railway vehicle driving cab and verifying the DMI through comparison to a standard specification, it is possible to greatly reduce the time and cost involved in manufacturing a conventional railway vehicle driving cabin as a prototype, and it is also possible to improve system stability.
According to another aspect of the present invention, by reflecting an improvement through a change in design such as reselection of a driving cab DMI model or rearrangement of a driving cab device when an error occurs in the evaluation result of the simulated railway vehicle driving cab DMI, it is possible to efficiently manufacture the DMI of the railway vehicle driving cab.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to apply the present invention to the driving cab DMI design of railway vehicles with different specifications.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow railway driving-related workers such as a railway engine driver, a railway crew, a railway controller, and a signal handler to jointly and similarly experience various situations such as a normal situation, an unusual situation, and an accident situation.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to control a scenario according to a predefined learning objective or a specific requirement for an individual or group, and it is also possible for a manager to control an occurrence of an event such as a train, communication equipment, climate conditions, orbital obstacles, etc., according to the learning objective.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily select a route and a train type to be trained, evaluated, and simulated by a route-specific operating situation library and a vehicle-type-specific driving cab layout library into which various handling and manipulation facilities/devices are objectified using virtual engineering.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to characterize a human error and a violating behavior as well as to automatically record selection, handling, and manipulation of various types of devices and apparatuses by applying a touchscreen and to objectively evaluate safety response ability by individual or group on the basis of an analysis of recognition and response data.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide objective assessment and feedback on human performance associated with individual NTS-based safety duty performance ability, including appropriate danger awareness/forecasting, decision making, compliance, or workload management when a new dangerous situation occurs or an error occurs.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, by a manager supporting the formation of NTS awareness of a trainee/evaluator to be evaluated on the basis of training, evaluation results and peer review data and providing an additional opportunity to develop NTS capabilities in other scenarios in the training process, it is possible to provide a learning environment productively even when a simulator training is not performed and to maximize a learning outcome caused by group learning.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, while any one team participates in the training using the simulator, the other teams perform a peer review on the performance of a team to be trained/evaluated, and in this process, it is possible to evaluate and write an NTS element-specific behavior indices (positive/negative) and provide a feedback for describing the peer review of the trainee to be evaluated.
While the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention and that various modifications and equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention should be determined only by the appended claims.

Claims

An adjustable railway vehicle simulator comprising:
a storage unit configured to store a library corresponding to a device installed in a railway vehicle driving cab and data regarding a standard specification of the device;

a display configured to display the library in an interface form;

an input unit configured to call the library stored in the storage unit and receive a control command from a user to display the called library on the display; and

a control unit configured to call the library according to the control command received through the input unit, output the called library to a designated position in the display in an interface form, and check whether the library matches a standard specification of the arranged interface, wherein the input unit includes a touchscreen.
The adjustable railway vehicle simulator of claim 1, wherein the control unit changes at least one of a position, an angle, and a form of the interface according to a method through which a touch is input through the touchscreen.
The adjustable railway vehicle simulator of claim 2, wherein when the interface is dragged through the touchscreen, the control unit moves the position of the interface to a target position of the dragging.
The adjustable railway vehicle simulator of claim 2, wherein when both sides of the interface are multi-touched and simultaneously dragged through the touchscreen, the control unit changes the angle or form of the interface according to a direction of the dragging.
The adjustable railway vehicle simulator of claim 2, wherein when one side of the interface is touched and another side of the interface is dragged through the touchscreen, the control unit changes the form of the interface around a touched point in a direction of the dragging.
The adjustable railway vehicle simulator of claim 1, wherein the display has multiple displays disposed to face users, and at least one of the displays is partitioned into a plurality of regions so that different interfaces are displayed.
A method of evaluating a driver machine interface (DMI) for a railway vehicle driving cab using the adjustable railway vehicle simulator according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, the method, which is performed by the control unit, comprising operations of:
(a) receiving a driving cab DMI model selected by a user;

(b) verifying the selected driving cab DMI model through comparison to a driving cab layout design criterion;

(c) receiving information regarding a new device to be placed in the driving cab from the user and registering the received information in a library;

(d) calling a library selected by the user from between a pre-registered library and the library registered in operation (c) according to the user's input, placing the library in the driving cab DMI model, and outputting the library to the display in an interface form;

(e) verifying the interface through comparison to a standard specification; and

(f) evaluating the verified driving cab DMI on the basis of the user's input value.
The method of claim 7, wherein when an error occurs in any one of operations (b) to (f), the previous operations are re-performed through a change in design to derive an improvement.
A joint training simulator for railway driving-related workers, the joint training simulator comprising:
a storage unit having libraries stored therein into which at least one of a vehicle, an event, and a scenario is objectified using virtual engineering;

multiple user simulators configured to output a library selected by a manager from among the libraries to a display in an interface form and transmit a user's input value to the interface; and

an integrated management simulator configured to receive a first user's input value transmitted from a first user simulator among the multiple user simulators, transmit the first user's input value to a second user simulator, receive a second user's input value corresponding to the first user's input value through the second user simulator, and evaluate a response of the second user,

wherein the integrated management simulator recombines the libraries according to the input value received from the first user simulator.
The joint training simulator of claim 9, wherein when the input value received from the first user simulator satisfies a predetermined scenario creation condition, the integrated management simulator recombines the libraries to generate a new scenario.
The joint training simulator of claim 9,
wherein the integrated management simulator recombines the libraries on the basis of an input value received with the highest priory from the first user simulator, and
wherein users who serve through the first user simulator play the same role.
The joint training simulator of claim 9, wherein the integrated management simulator checks whether the second user's input value matches duty determination criterion data stored in the storage unit.
The joint training simulator of claim 9, wherein the second user simulator outputs libraries corresponding to different events or scenarios to the display in an interface form according to the first user's input value received from the integrated management simulator.
A method of evaluating a joint training for railway driving-related workers using the joint training simulator for the railway driving-related workers according to any one of claims 9 to 13, the method comprising operations of:
(a) an integrated management simulator calling a library for a vehicle, an event, or a scenario selected by a manager and outputting the library to a display of a first user simulator in an interface form;

(b) the first user simulator receiving a first user's input value for the interface and transmitting the first user's input value to the integrated management simulator;

(c) the integrated management simulator outputting the first user's input value to a display of a second user simulator in an interface form;

(d) the second user simulator receiving a second user's input value corresponding to the first user's input value output in the interface form and transmitting the second user's input value to the integrated management simulator; and

(e) the integrated management simulator checking whether the second user's input value matches duty determination criterion data.
The method of claim 14, wherein in operation (d), the second user simulator outputs libraries corresponding to different events or scenarios to the display in an interface form according to the first user's input value.