Design and Development of an Integrated Virtual-Reality Training Simulation Sand Table for Rail Systems

With the rapid development of the economy, it is imperative to improve the quality of training for operational and managerial talents in the railway industry. To address issues such as efficiency, safety, and cost in railway industry practical training, it is crucial to establish a more comprehensive and efficient high-value virtual–real integration simulation experimental training resource. Therefore, this paper takes the actual work process as the core driving force, utilizes advanced information technology and intelligent devices, and is based on the comprehensive training platform for automatic control of physical trains combined with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipment. It achieves the integration of hardware and software construction to design and develop a comprehensive simulation training sand table system that incorporates functions such as training, demonstration, testing, and experiments. This system builds an integrated platform for training simulation functions, capable of simulating a railway centralized traffic control system, enabling railway dispatching simulation, driving simulation, and inspection simulation experiences. Additionally, it designs experimental processes at three levels: cognition, practical operation, and enhancement, tailored to the needs of talent development. The rail transportation training simulation sand table effectively reduces training costs and enhances the practical ability training quality of railway operation management personnel, meeting the requirements for talent development in the railway and related industries under new circumstances.