Instructor Station Features
At the heart of every TRAX Training Simulator is the all-important Instructor Station. From this one console, the Training Instructor has control over all aspects of the simulator, from running models and initiating malfunctions to loading training sessions and viewing Trainee scores.
Run Time Executive
The ProTRAX Run Time Executive (RTEXEC) software is the brains behind the Instructor Station, providing the instructor with a powerful training system featuring a user-friendly interface. Designed to simplify the training process, RTEXEC allows the instructor to concentrate on the activities of the trainee rather than the operation of the simulator. With a single mouse click on the desktop icon, the simulator starts, the initialization tasks are automatically performed, and everything the instructor needs to begin training is displayed on the desktop.
From the Instructor Station, the trainer can coordinate the simulator, run the models, provide local control operations, and control numerous other simulator functions. The Run Time Executive also includes the Operator Proficiency feature, which launches and manages simulator training sessions. Used by both instructors and trainees, the Operator Proficiency feature monitors, displays, and archives results of each training session.
Features
Instructor Station features typically supported include:
- Operator Proficiency with quantitative performance scoring
- Teaching Assistant lessons
- Selectable pre-programmed training scenarios
- Unlimited programmable malfunctions
- Operator action capture
- Freeze/Run toggle
- Dynamic schematics and parameter changes
- Trending multiple variables on multiple plots simultaneously
- Snapshot and Backtrack
- Fast/slow time scaling
- Display of DCS operator graphics
- Automated running of dynamic analyses
- Integrated voice, video, and sound effects
- Export of logged data to third party software
Button Overlay Bar (BOB)
Conveniently located on the instructor’s computer desktop or any simulator workstation is the Button Overlay Bar ("BOB"), which provides quick access to all commonly-used standard functions, as well as those customized for and/or by the instructor. The pull-down menu on BOB allows the instructor to instantly change to different views of the bar, each of which displays a different set of buttons. By providing instant access to features that have been optimized for the instructor's specific needs, BOB greatly simplifies simulator use and saves the instructor considerable time.
Dynamic Schematics
Schematics can be accessed during runtime and used to view dynamic data for a specific component or flowstream, and parameters can be changed on-the-fly.
Clicking on any module will open a window with several options, allowing you to:
- View values of variables associated with the module itself, such as valve position, drum level, pump speed, etc.
- View all current parameter values for the selected component, or change any of these parameters at runtime (typically used to tune control system parameters)
- Invoke or define a malfunction for the selected component
- Dynamically create trend plots of key parameters
In addition, variable lines and flowstreams dynamically change color to visually identify their state or value. When you click on a flowstream, a window opens that shows the pressure, enthalpy, density, temperature, flowrate, and composition (as applicable) of the flowstream at that particular point in time. Any number of these windows can be opened simultaneously and positioned on the screen as desired.