Reducing Emissions from Commercial Vehicle Training
Funded through ERA’s Partnership Intake Program in 2021, Serious Labs Inc. (SLI) aimed to develop their innovative technology that simulates Class 1 vehicle training scenarios. While the project was ultimately cancelled, the technology had the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while supporting job creation and economic diversification in Alberta.
Within the transportation sector, buses and commercial trucks produce the highest percentage of Alberta’s GHG emissions. To obtain the Class 1 license required to drive these vehicles, individuals must complete the Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) program and pass knowledge and road tests. The Mandatory Entry Level Training Virtual Reality Simulator (MELT VR Sim) from SLI emulates real-life scenarios and environments that large commercial vehicle drivers would encounter during the MELT program. This replacement of in-cab training hours with virtual training hours would remove the GHG emissions that normally result from operating a vehicle during conventional in-cab training and make the required training for MELT more accessible and affordable.
Preventing Nausea Associated with Virtual Reality
During the proposed project, SLI aimed to develop key features of the simulator where the vehicle’s behaviours could be tested and tuned for performance. These behaviours included a high detail truck model with fully integrated vehicle physics, a complete training environment and learning scenarios. Additionally, SLI aimed to update the motion system and motion-cueing to mitigate nausea associated with VR. While the funding relationship was terminated, SLI made some progress with their development. The progress during the project helped advance the technology, providing valuable insights if SLI continues to develop the MELT VR Sim in the future.
What’s next?
Since the funding relationship was terminated in 2024, ERA is not aware of any further work by SIL to develop this technology.