PolyU and Citybus sign MoU to promote simulated driving training, enhancing training effectiveness and road safety for Bus Captains
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Citybus Limited (Citybus) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Citybus will utilise the “Intelligent Driving Training and Evaluation System” developed by PolyU, and funded by the Smart Traffic Fund, as a supplementary tool for Bus Captain training. The system uses Extended Reality (XR) technology with a container truck driving simulation platform to provide simulated driving training for Bus Captains, thereby enhancing training effectiveness and safety awareness.
The signing ceremony was held on the PolyU campus. Witnessed by Prof. Xiaowen FU, Head of the PolyU Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) and Chair Professor of Logistics Engineering, and Ms Rebecca CHAN, Administrative Director of Citybus, the MoU was officially signed by Dr Yuk Ming TANG, Senior Lecturer of the ISE, and Mr Roger WONG, General Manager (People and Culture) of Citybus, on behalf of respective organisations.
The “Intelligent Driving Training and Evaluation System” was developed as an outcome of an ISE research project. The System integrates XR technology, AI-driven analysis and a “six-degree-of-freedom” motion simulation platform. In the initial phase of the partnership, the existing container truck driving simulation platform serves as the foundation to pilot a trial to support training for Citybus Bus Captains. The system can simulate various road scenarios such as pedestrians suddenly crossing the road and adverse weather conditions, while recording and analysing the Bus Captains’ driving performance and response to emergency situations. The University will evaluate and refine the simulation based on actual training needs to better reflect daily bus driving conditions; should the trial yield positive results, both parties will explore further optimising the system or transforming it into a platform more closely tailored to the operational characteristics of buses.
Prof. Xiaowen Fu remarked, “PolyU is committed to translating research outcomes into practical applications. Supported by the Smart Traffic Fund (Project Ref.: PSRI/37/2204/RA), the initiative aims to overcome the scenario and technical limitations of traditional driver training; by leveraging simulation technology, it provides trainees with personalised, targeted training to enhance their driving skills and crisis response capabilities. The system analyses trainee performance to offer tailored recommendations. At the same time, trainees can repeatedly practise high-risk, low-frequency traffic scenarios in a zero-risk simulated environment, thereby reinforcing emergency responses, building muscle memory and significantly improving their ability to react appropriately on real roads. This collaboration with Citybus enables further application and evaluation of the research findings in real-world training scenarios, with the aim of further optimising and transforming the simulation system. We look forward to partnering with Citybus in translating PolyU research outcomes into practical industrial applications and in supporting the upgrading of talent training in the bus industry.”
Ms Rebecca Chan said, “Citybus serves over a million customers daily and prioritises road safety at all times. Keeping pace with the times, we proactively leverage innovative technologies to enhance our professional people development and training, enabling us to adapt to the ever-changing traffic environment. We are delighted to partner with PolyU on this pilot scheme, which utilises the driving simulation system as training aids. Our Bus Captains can practice various driving scenarios in a simulated environment, complementing on-road training, allowing them to enhance their response capabilities in a safe environment. Citybus will continue to harness technology to elevate safety standards. By integrating smart elements into all areas, from talent training and learning development to fleet operations and management, we remain fully committed to providing safer and more reliable bus services for the community.”
The pilot scheme for smart driving training officially commenced this July. In the first phase, Citybus has arranged for selected serving Bus Captains to participate in simulated driving training. Subsequently, the teams from PolyU and Citybus will jointly review the training data and evaluate the System’s effectiveness. Both parties hope that practical operational experience will serve as a reference for future bus training models and help continuously enhance public transport safety in Hong Kong.
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