EADS - Very High Speed, Intercity and Suburban Train Simulators

EADS is a market leader in defence technologies, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft.

Within defence and security systems the "Simulation&Training" program forms part of the defence electronics business unit. The "Simulation&Training" program is one of the world’s leading simulator manufacturers offering training systems for all kinds of wheeled and railway vehicles.

The relatively young field of driver training simulation has started as a spin-off-activity based on high-tech military simulators and is now organised in a separate program unit successfully addressing the railway and road-based simulation markets.

Simulators and training systems developed by the program unit are in service in Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, the UK, Turkey and the Middle East.

Modular and open train and driving simulator systems

The modular design of EADS's train simulators allows the use of the latest state-of-the-art commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components, thus optimising performance and the cost of ownership.

The driving simulators are optimised to be used for the practical content of conducting reproducible exercises in a virtual world, close to a real, typical world railway environment.

Driver training - education, assessment and research

Permitting the maximum possible relief of railroad traffic, and reducing the need to operate driving school trains, train driving simulators developed and manufactured by EADS are designed for training, evaluation and assessment in the fields of:

• Studying / teaching fundamentals in driver technique and practice under normal and special conditions
• Practice in correct handling, e.g. use of brake system in various situations
• Forward-looking driving skills
• Stress reduction training due to influence of driver workload (heavy traffic conditions, situation-related stress patterns, etc.)
• Driving in adverse conditions (different weather and track conditions, reduced visibility, etc.)
• Advanced operation skills, e.g. training to handle malfunctions/incidents and operating sequences in hazardous situations

In this manner, the quality of driver training can be enhanced while at the same time training time can be reduced and a constant high level of proficiency is guaranteed over the long term.

High level of detail databases for driving simulation

EADS offers high level of detail databases that even allow conducting route familiarisation exercises. A database editor is available to the customers, including a large, customised library of track elements and scene objects. This allows for easy upgrades to adapt the databases to the evolving customer needs and to make use of the continuously growing performance of image generators.

By the means of the implemented exercise editor the instructor can easily define appropriate driving lessons based on the individual skills and knowledge of the student.

Online setting of events and malfunctions brings further training benefits. A faultfinding station allows the driver to inspect and operate any system of the entire train to recover from any of the simulated failures.

An observer station, connected to the simulator system, allows other students to follow the ongoing simulator training.

Cost-effective training - custom railway simulation

Due to the high level of detail in terms of vehicle replica in hardware and software, operational training for drivers on specific locomotives and cross-border training are possible to enhance the introduction of a new fleet.

EADS's train simulators are mostly based on customer requirements, designed for freight and passenger trains of different types and operational procedures. EADS is able to deliver railway simulators for EMUs, DMUs, multiple units, high speed (running up to 330km/h, e.g. ICE3 train), short and long distance trains as well as metros, LRVs and streetcars.

EADS's family of train simulators comprises part task trainers, full mission simulators (motion/fixed based), an exchange concept for driver desk or whole cab to deal with fleet diversifications, as well as unique visual solutions offering a total field of view of approx. 90° horizontal by 45° vertical.