top of page
Search

3D Scanning Is Transforming Bus Training: Inside Our Latest Full-Bus Capture

  • Writer: Jeff Rayner
    Jeff Rayner
  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read

At Drivers of Tomorrow, we’re always looking for ways to push training technology forward. We want go beyond incremental adjustments, into ways that open entirely new possibilities for how drivers learn.


Our latest milestone... Completing a full 3D scan of an entire bus using Hyperscape, one of the most advanced high-resolution LiDAR and photogrammetry capture tools on the market today.


...And the results are stunning.


This is a view inside the 3D virtual bus
This is a view inside the 3D virtual bus

Why We Scanned a Real Bus

For years, agencies have been limited to using static images, diagrams, or videos to teach pre-trip inspections and vehicle systems. These methods work, but they miss the real-world nuance that trainees will encounter once they’re behind the wheel.


These approaches also miss the opportunity to show the nuances between the various vehicles available to a fleet.


By capturing a bus with Hyperscape, we now have:

  • Millimeter-accurate geometry

  • True-to-life textures

  • Perfect scale and spatial relationships

  • Detailed interiors, exteriors, and all mechanical systems

  • The ability to put the entire fleet in front of your eyes... INSTANTLY!


This gives us a “digital twin” precise enough to power next-generation training experiences, and it works in VR and compliments our AR, simulators, and interactive web modules.



What Hyperscape Technology Adds

Hyperscape blends laser scanning with high-resolution imaging, producing a rich, ultra-accurate model that is far beyond traditional 3D modeling.


For our team, that means:

  • No guesswork: Every switch, label, cable, hinge, and bracket is where it should be.

  • Faster development: We can build training modules and assessments directly on top of real-world data.

  • Consistency across reality: We can use the exact same real and digital sources.

  • Better accessibility: Trainees can explore the bus from anywhere, anytime... even before Day 1 on the training floor.


This level of fidelity supports safer drivers, more confident pre-trip inspections, and dramatically improved pass rates.


ree

A view of the driver cab and windows


Bringing the Scan Into VR, AR & Simulators

The new hyperscape capture is already being integrated into multiple Drivers of Tomorrow learning tools:


1. VR Pre-Trip Training & Testing

Trainees can walk around — and inside — the bus to inspect every component. Paired with our AI helper bot, VIC, they get real-time guidance, translation, and testing.


2. AR “At-Home” Learning

Our AR app lets trainees explore the bus using only their phone or tablet. The Hyperscape scan ensures what they see is the real bus their agency uses, not an approximation.


3. High-Fidelity Simulator Scenarios

Simulators can now reflect exact spatial dimensions and component placement, helping drivers build muscle memory faster and more accurately.


4. Engineering & Maintenance Collaboration

Beyond driver training, maintenance teams can use the scan as a reference for parts, configurations, and system layouts — reducing downtime and improving accuracy.



Why This Matters for You


Transit agencies are under constant pressure: improving safety, reducing training time, increasing retention, and preparing new operators faster. The Hyperscape scan is a breakthrough because it addresses several of these goals at once:

  • More accurate training → fewer test failures

  • Portable learning → trainees progress even off-site

  • Better scenario design → simulate problem routes with exact bus geometry

  • Lower long-term costs → reusable digital assets that scale with your program

Your bus becomes a future-proof training platform.


What’s Next

This scan is just the beginning. Over the coming months, we’ll be rolling out enhanced VR pre-trip features, new AR modules, and more realistic simulator environments... all built on top of this digital twin.


We’re excited to share more soon.


For agencies interested in bringing hyperscape-based digital twins into their fleet training programs, we’d love to chat.


You can see the short video or full length review here


Comments

bottom of page