The article presents issues related to establishing the main design criteria for a rail vehicle simulator. It describes the characteristics of locomotive operation, currently used simulator solutions, as well as issues related to animation and image presentation. The requirements for the operation of a rail vehicle simulator were defined and discussed, as well as the design requirements concerning both the station reproducing the driver’s cab and the method of image visualization. Furthermore, the problem of the negative impact of driving simulators on the human body and ways to prevent this phenomenon were presented.A locomotive is a specific vehicle moving on tracks, adapted to pull or push large masses (even 4,000 tons), which are freight/passenger wagons or other vehicles. Depending on their purpose, they are equipped with various types of propulsion units with power ranging from 1,000 to 26,000 kW. The maximum speeds reached by locomotives reach 500 km/h and more. The listed design features and operating conditions require appropriate skills from the operator (driver). The high inertia of the vehicle is one of the fundamental factors that makes operating the vehicle complicated and requires appropriate anticipation of situations. A rail vehicle simulator must take into account not only the mentioned conditions but also a number of diverse requirements that mainly concern the construction and the ability to reflect real operating conditions or simulate certain situations.
2. SIMULATOR CONSTRUCTIONS
The construction of simulators varies greatly. A division can be made based on the types of systems directly creating and generating the image, as well as based on spatial vision characteristics. In the case of a locomotive simulator, the most appropriate solution would be to use a computer system. (…)
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Source: Logistyka Magazine