UPS, the logistics company is turning to virtual reality technology to train their student delivery drivers at nine of its teaching facilities in the US. The technology will be used to help them simulate driving on the road to help identify road hazards and obstacles.
The simulations were created by their in-house teams and the training modules will test their student delivery drivers on how to identify pedestrians, parked cars and oncoming traffic.
“Virtual Reality offers a big technological leap in the realm of driver safety training,” said Juan Perez, UPS chief information and engineering officer. “VR creates a hyper-realistic streetscape that will dazzle even the youngest of our drivers whose previous exposure to the technology was through video games.”
VR training is slowly creeping its way into multiple fields such as medical and healthcare and not excluding retail as well. It offers a cheap solution for companies to be able to put their employees in typical scenarios they may face during the job and to get them better prepared as well as better equipped to be able to react in various scenarios and situations.
As of now, UPS has 9,000 drivers listed in their Circle of Honor group which is a group of their elite drivers who has not had any avoidable accidents in 25 years. Talk about a clean record. With VR technology, UPS aims to continue improving their driver’s capabilities and attention to danger.
“This training is foundational, and Virtual Reality brings it to life,” said Jeanne Lawrence, UPS Integrad expansion director. “VR complements real-world training in a way that deeply engages our employees in the UPS Integrad curriculum.”
UPS Integrad facilities teach students the fundamentals of driving delivery vehicles and delivering packages using a hands-on approach. Students even practice driving UPS delivery trucks in a replica outdoor city that has real streets and sidewalks and simulated delivery and pickup sites.
