Romain STALEY

Portfolio en Gestion de Projet

Development of a proof of concept: train driving and maintenance simulation

Production of a proof of concept for an SME specialising in simulation, aimed at using virtual reality to optimise tramway driving and maintenance. The aim was to create an immersive environment that would enable drivers to better perceive distances and blind spots, and help them locate maintenance hatches. The project involved close coordination with several stakeholders, technological acceptability challenges and rigorous risk monitoring. Presented at trade fairs such as InnoTrans, this simulator has demonstrated the effectiveness of immersive solutions for railway operational needs.

Contexte, Rôles, Responsabilités

Contexte

Client

French SME specialised in simulation

Date & Durée

2019 (1 year)

Objectifs

To test the potential of virtual reality to meet two user needs:

To improve the realism of simulations by providing an accurate perception of distances and allowing blind spots to be seen when the driver tilts his head.
Provide a solution that helps the driver locate maintenance hatches and perform the appropriate actions in the event of a train failure.

Périmètre

The project is limited to trams, and is to include coverage of the various tram models used by customers, both in France and in the United States.

Défis & Contraintes

Technological acceptability: Acceptance of the technology is difficult and requires close contact with users to identify any obstacles and adjust the technology to make it less intrusive (without helmets, for example).
High cost of technology: Equipment is expensive, requiring negotiations with partners to obtain equipment loans.
Multiple uncertainties: The presence of numerous uncertainties requires rigorous planning and a strong capacity for anticipation.

Parties Prenantes

- Clients and business managers
- Graphic designers
- Doctoral student on a CIFRE thesis
- Research partner (specialist in user-machine interaction) Industrial partnersmachine interaction)
- Industrial partners
- Communications and marketing officer
- Sales person
- Expert developers and specialists in dynamic train modelling (one-off actions)

Rôles & Responsabilités

Scope and objectives management: Clearly define the objectives and scope of the project with the technical and business manager to ensure that it meets user needs.
Planning and schedule management: Drawing up a detailed plan with iteration phases to meet deadlines and include user feedback.
Stakeholder management: Coordinating and maintaining effective communication between all stakeholders to meet user expectations.
Coordination & technical participation: Working with experts to ensure the integration and compatibility of technologies in the simulation. Technical participation for stereoscopic visualisation models.
Demonstrator testing & promotion: Organising user tests and presentations at trade fairs or in-house to adjust the technology in line with feedback and promote the results of the project.
Cost and resource management: Optimising resources and negotiating with partners to keep within budget while obtaining the necessary technologies.
Anticipating and managing risks: Identifying and anticipating risks so as to adapt planning in the face of uncertainty.
Performance monitoring and reporting: Monitoring project progress using indicators and ensuring regular reporting.

Les phase du projet

Les phases du projet

1. Démarrage

Analysis of user needs: Gathering the needs of drivers and other end-users via business and sales representatives to validate the realistic simulation objectives.
Stakeholder identification: Identify and define all stakeholders, from the project team to industrial partners. Identify knowledge gaps and fill them by seeking new partners.
Define project objectives: Clarify objectives to ensure alignment with needs (perception of distances, visibility of blind spots, etc.).
Defining the scope: Setting the limits of the project (tramway only, coverage of French and American models).
Initial risk assessment: Carry out an initial risk analysis, identifying challenges such as technological acceptability, high costs and technical uncertainties.

2. Planification

Iterative planning: Design a project plan with iteration phases including user feedback at each stage.
Communication plan: Define a communication plan to ensure fluid information between all stakeholders (customers, partners, internal team).
Resource management: Plan resource allocation and negotiate costly equipment loans with partners.
Risk management: Develop a risk management plan for each uncertainty identified, developing potential responses.
Budget planning: Establish a detailed cost estimate and budget to optimise the resources allocated to the project.
Project timeline: Create a timeline including all key tasks and deliverables with regular checkpoints. The main milestones and dependencies managed on a GANTT with MS Project.

3. Exécution

Simulator development: Supervising the work of the developers to create an immersive simulator that meets the requirements in terms of driving and maintenance. Participation in development.
Coordination with Technical Partners: Working with partners to integrate their technical contributions into the simulator.
Intermediate testing: Organising regular tests to assess the functionality of the modules developed and adjusting the elements according to the feedback.
Integration of Training Scenarios: Designing and implementing a variety of scenarios to meet identified use cases, with a focus on realism and interactivity.
Expenditure monitoring: Controlling costs and adjusting resources in line with requirements and ongoing developments to stay within budget.

4. Surveillance & Contrôle

Change Management: Managing change requests, taking into account the technical and budgetary implications.
Risk Assessment: Periodically reviewing identified risks and adjusting response strategies in line with project developments.
Module Validation: Carrying out final validations for each component before the user testing phase

5. Clôture

Réunions de Clôture : Organiser des sessions de retour d’expérience avec les partenaires et les équipes internes pour capitaliser sur les apprentissages.
Archivage des Documents : Classer et archiver tous les documents du projet, y compris les spécifications, plans, et retours d’expérience.
Bilan Financier : Évaluer le budget final du projet et justifier les écarts, si nécessaire, par rapport aux prévisions.
Présentation des Résultats : Préparer une présentation des résultats et des recommandations pour les dirigeants et parties prenantes.

Outils, Méthode utilisés & Résultats

Outils, méthodes utilisés & Résultats

Outils & méthodes utilisés

MS Project: Used for planning, task allocation and schedule monitoring.
SWOT analysis: Analysis tool to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats throughout the project.
Dashboards: Real-time monitoring of performance indicators and costs.
Simulations and User Tests: Organisation and monitoring of tests with end users to validate functionalities.

Résultats obtenus

Positive feedback from users: test sessions showed a high level of satisfaction with the effectiveness and realism of the simulation.
Innovative integration: Demonstration of cutting-edge technology applicable to other sectors requiring immersive simulations.
International Visibility: The simulator was successfully presented at two major international rail shows, InnoTrans (Berlin) and Railway Interchange (Denver), demonstrating the innovation to an audience of industry professionals.
Future prospects: The success of this proof of concept has paved the way for future developments in the rail sector, and potentially in other fields requiring immersive simulations.