A successful grant application to the NHVR and the Federal government has seen a Melbourne based driver simulation developer lay claim to its software package being set to revolutionise driver safety training in the heavy vehicle industry.
MOTUM World is a customisable software platform created with local conditions in mind and has been produced entirely in Australia by the MOTUM Simulation team.
MOTUM World’s successful grant application will see it receive funding through NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), which is supported by the Australian Government.
The company says that the virtual training tool will present a wide range of heavy vehicle options and will be developed across the transport spectrum, from smaller rigid trucks through to multi-combinations.
MOTUM says It is also planned that each vehicle type will be able to be fine-tuned for specific applications, such as different weights and the relative positioning on the vehicle, while the driving dynamics of different load types, such as carrying liquids, will be recreated in the virtual training world as an extension of this.
MOTUM says it is working closely with numerous industry stakeholders, such as the NHVR, Armstrong’s Driver Training, the Australian Driving Institute and Driver Safety Australia to develop MOTUM World for the heavy vehicle market.
The company says that the grant paves the way for widespread software adoption in a massive target market for MOTUM Simulation,
“Extensive research has validated the effectiveness of simulators in driver training, and through MOTUM World, we have a platform that has been researched and developed locally for our specific conditions, improving safety outcomes for one of the highest-risk cohorts on our roads,” said MOTUM Simulation managing director, Steve Hoinville.
“As simulation technology has improved in fidelity and cost, it is now a tool that can and should be accessible in all driver training scenarios, especially for those situations that are too dangerous to replicate in real life.,” Hoinville said.
“Simulation-based training is the logical supplement to the traditional method. Countering the significant limitations of on-road training, MOTUM World offers cost-effective, repeatable, 100 per cent objective training that is totally risk-free,” he added.
“It can be undertaken in any location, at any time, and it is not dependent on the availability of vehicle assets.
“While our company has roots in producing physical simulators, we identified a significant hole in the market for driver training software specifically developed for the needs of Australian drivers.
“With thanks to the NHVR and the HVSI, we can now work to produce vehicles, environment assets, training scenarios and associated hardware to include various heavy vehicle types.
“In the virtual environment, training scenarios can be tailored to improve safety outcomes across the board for all road users,” Hoinville said.
NHVR’s executive director of corporate affairs, Michelle Tayler said MOTUM is one of 16 organisations to receive funding as part of a $3.9 million investment in safety projects.
“We look forward to seeing the MOTUM World project come to life to boost heavy vehicle safety standards and practices,” said Tayler.
“The HVSI grants program funds critical industry-led safety projects aimed at reducing road trauma and saving lives on Australia’s roads.,” she said.
MOTUM World says the system’s functionality includes a full 360-degree view and the surround sound from the synthetic ‘MOTUM World environment’. The company also says the system boasts high visual realism for the surroundings and situations, and that the vehicles are kinematically and dynamically accurate to real-life vehicle models, which the company claims makes them respond accurately to driver inputs.
VR headsets also provide support for drivers to turn their heads up to 180 degrees for reversing, as well as left-right checks at intersections and lane changes.
It says that in combination with a MOTUM True Motion Simulator, it can provide a full range of sensations to drivers, such as road surface changes, cornering and braking forces, or when there is a loss of traction.
The company says that the program also has the potential to be used as a broader training tool, allowing passenger vehicle drivers to experience the challenges faced by heavy vehicle drivers.
The company says that up to now MOTUM World has been developed for a range of applications, from learner drivers to dedicated underground mining machinery, emergency services, and training stevedores in roll-on roll-off vehicle operations at ports, saying that the program is adaptable to practically any vehicle and environment type.
MOTUM says that continual improvement and expansion of the platform has included integrating AI-driven elements, ensuring a ‘dynamic and immersive training experience’.
The company also said that a range of dedicated telemetry metrics is recorded for analysis by trainers, while it says that instructors can also tailor scenarios, including testing driver responsiveness, awareness, and defensive skills under a host of road and weather conditions.
Further details on MOTUM World can be found at www.motumsimulation.com/motum-world-software/.
