Effects of Simulator Training Duration on Early-Stage Control Performance of Mobile Vehicle Platforms

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of simulator training duration on the performance of mobile transport platform (MTP) operators in the early stages of skill development. The primary hypothesis is that the learning effect is uneven, structurally localized, and manifests itself at specific stages of task performance. An experimental study was conducted involving operators with no practical experience who underwent simulator training for 15 and 30 minutes under identical conditions. A remotely controlled mobile platform (RCM) implemented as an unmanned aerial platform (UAP) was used as a representative case of MTP control, ensuring accurate recording of trajectory parameters. The experimental task involved driving a standardized route with checkpoints, divided into time segments. To analyze structural effects, a relative segment effect metric was introduced, allowing for quantitative assessment of differences between training conditions at the level of individual trajectory segments. In addition to the overall task completion time, segmental characteristics, the number of incidents, and missed checkpoints were analyzed using nonparametric statistical methods. The results showed that increasing training duration leads to a statistically significant reduction in overall task completion time. However, the effect is heterogeneous: significant differences are localized in specific trajectory segments characterized by increased control complexity. High variability in performance was also revealed in the early stages of training, along with a lack of a strong relationship between execution speed and control accuracy. These results demonstrate that assessing the effectiveness of operator training should consider not only integral indicators but also the task structure. Although the experiment was conducted on an aerial platform, the proposed approach is applicable to a wide range of mobile transport platforms.