Edmonton-based Serious Labs is growing a digital actuality (VR) business truck driving simulator with assist from the Government of Alberta, Emissions Discount Alberta (ERA), and the Alberta Motor Transport Affiliation (AMTA). 

Alberta will contribute $1 million to improvement prices of the simulator, whereas ERA will contribute an extra $2 million. AMTA is offering knowledge and knowledgeable steerage to make sure that the simulator meets transportation trade wants.

Severe Labs will design, manufacture, and pilot the simulator in Alberta. Business deployment is estimated to start in 2024, with the simulator to be made accessible throughout Canada and the USA.

Necessary Entry Stage Coaching (MELT), the brand new coaching customary deployed all through Canada for Class 1 and Class 2 business drivers, will develop into obligatory for all provinces by 2024. MELT is designed to extend the talent degree and security of business drivers by offering extra coaching and observe. It requires that every new driver acquire over 100 hours of coaching time, together with 76 and a half hours of in-cab driving time, earlier than being issued a license.

Canada’s transportation trade is going through a labour scarcity of over 20,000 business drivers which is projected to worsen within the coming years. “Whereas the brand new MELT necessities are good news for rising security requirements, it means extra time in addition to larger prices for coaching centres, extra emissions, and makes getting into the trade harder for brand spanking new drivers,” stated Wade Carson, Senior Product Director at Severe Labs. “Our objective is to assist alleviate these difficulties and instill greatest practices for drivers by enabling them to finish a part of their in-cab coaching in VR as an alternative.”

The elevated hours required for MELT coaching may also enhance emissions. It’s estimated that between 2023-2030, the Canadian trucking trade will contribute greater than 5,650,000 tons of greenhouse gases whereas business drivers are being educated.

The brand new business truck simulator is projected to considerably cut back this quantity. For every driver educated utilizing a mix of VR and in-vehicle coaching, Severe Labs estimates a discount of 80 % of greenhouse gasoline emissions in comparison with the standard method. Because the simulator launches and turns into extra widespread, Severe Labs tasks it is going to displace 40 % of emissions—greater than 2,260,000 tonnes—produced in coaching between 2023-2030. By 2030, the simulator will likely be lowering 55 % of MELT-driven emissions on an annual foundation. By ingraining greatest practices, the simulator may also allow drivers to scale back emissions from day-to-day operations by 2.8 %.

“By changing in-vehicle coaching time with VR simulators, Severe Labs has the potential to considerably cut back greenhouse gasoline emissions from Alberta’s and Canada’s transportation sectors,” stated Steve MacDonald, CEO of ERA. “This expertise resolution additionally helps the expansion of Alberta’s digital trade, a sector with monumental potential to diversify our economic system and assist speed up motion on local weather change.”

ERA was created in 2009 to assist ship on the province’s environmental and financial objectives. ERA takes motion on local weather change and helps financial progress by investing within the piloting, demonstration, and deployment of unpolluted expertise options that cut back greenhouse gases, decrease prices, entice funding, and create jobs in Alberta.

Along with the environmental advantages, the simulator may also present vital benefits for the transportation trade, stated AMTA President Chris Nash. AMTA and its members have superior the business transportation trade by security packages, progressive coverage, and partnerships since 1938.

“This VR simulator will change the face of driver coaching as we all know it, and AMTA is behind the revolutionary applied sciences that can make our roads safer and our economies stronger,” stated Nash. “The fast utility of recent expertise and disruption in trade is advancing rapidly and we’re proud to work alongside Severe Labs, ERA, and the Authorities of Alberta. The necessity for all industries to maintain tempo with new expertise developments would require collaborative use of information and digitization to develop built-in options for a safer tomorrow.”