It's hard to imagine that this is the driving school learning scene that has always had a tense atmosphere: each student has one car per person, and they practice starting, turning, and reversing independently in the coach car...... On April 17, the reporter came to Wuhan Xinxing Driving School located on Hankou North Avenue and learned to drive with an AI coach.
In most people's impressions, learning to drive is a coach leading several students, everyone takes turns to practice, and it may not be a few turns in an afternoon, and from time to time they have to face the coach's strict training.
Here, on the training ground of more than 30,000 square meters, except for a few traditional vehicles and coaches sitting in the car for guidance, there are no coaches in the rest of the AI coaches. The coach only needs to stand outside the car to observe, and come forward to assist in special situations.
[1] The reporter experienced the AI coach, and the tips were very detailed and technological
Students sit in the AI coach and practice independently. Source: Photo by reporter Gao Wenju
The reporter noticed that the appearance of the AI coach is basically the same as that of an ordinary coach, except that there is a small device similar to a taxi light on the roof. Coach Huang Hailiang told reporters that this is a radar detection device, which is specially used to transmit signals and intelligent positioning to AI coaches.
To ensure the safety of the trainees, the AI coach is also equipped with multiple radar and vision systems that automatically stop when it encounters an obstacle, is too fast, or is about to cross an electronic fence.
The reporter sat in the AI coach car as a beginner to experience.
A flat panel display, the AI coach, is installed on the right front of the driver's seat of the vehicle, which shows the operation interface of the intelligent teaching system, which can be set to either male or female voice mode. The reporter chose the female voice mode, and the AI coach began to teach.
Students sit in the AI coach and practice independently. Source: Photo by reporter Gao Wenju
The reporter adjusted the seat, fastened the seat belt, put the gear, released the handbrake, slowly released the foot brake, and prepared to practice reversing into the garage. ”
As the speed is still too fast, the vehicle suddenly brakes automatically, and at this time, the computer screen displays "automatic brake on" with a pictorial explanation for disarming.
After the automatic braking system is lifted, the AI coach continues to prompt: "Reverse backwards, and after two seconds, the left rearview mirror will close to the dotted line, and then hit it full to the right." This is followed by a "ding-dong" tone.
The reporter quickly turned the steering wheel, but it was still a little late, and the AI coach prompted: "The direction is late, and the angle may be pressed." "I'm about to turn back to the left half a circle, pay attention to the prompt sound. Sure enough, the reporter reversed into the warehouse a bit of a failure, pressed to the left corner of the warehouse.
"Next time, hit the right early. The AI coach immediately comforted and corrected the error again: "The parking space is on the left, hit the direction early." ”......
When driving in the corner, the reporter took a lesson, lowered the speed of the car and moved slowly, and passed smoothly with the encouragement of the AI coach, who displayed a thumbs up on the AI screen and praised: "Practice successfully, keep it up." ”
Huang Hailiang told reporters that as the students' mastery of driving skills improves, the AI instructor will automatically equip the students with different learning modes. In the learning process, students progress step by step like playing games to fight monsters and upgrades, and some AI coaches will encourage students from time to time, calling students "princess, big baby", etc., to help students enhance their confidence.
[2] Young students are more willing to accept the new model
The coach sits in the command room and directs through the big screen.
AI coaches are on the job, but where are the traditional coaches?
They sat in the "command room" on the other side, and on the huge electronic screen, each student's driving path, training time, risk warning and other data were clear at a glance.
Coach Huang Hailiang saw a student stop for more than 5 minutes and immediately asked the reason through the microphone. It turned out that the student had exited the system but did not know how to re-enter. "Swipe the QR code and sign in again. Huang Hailiang reminded.
The function of a traditional coach is also to provide basic training for beginners. The new driving school has also introduced five intelligent driver training simulators equipped with the latest equipment. It "reproduces" the driving environment, field of vision, car driver's seat structure and driving dynamics of the driving school 1:1, just like sitting in a game hall and driving a car.
"This is also an important part of the driving school curriculum," Huang Hailiang said, "and only after the training program of the intelligent driver training simulator has been passed, can it enter the actual car practice." ”
In the driving school training ground, there are 20 AI coaches parked. Source: Photo by reporter Xu Dan
51-year-old student Wu Enhua went to the new driving school on March 8 this year to study, when he first came to learn to drive with a traditional coach, after learning for a while, Wu Enhua saw the newly introduced AI coach car itching, but also got on the car to experience.
"I feel safe and I'm not afraid of crashing anymore. Wu Enhua said that in the event of an emergency, the AI coach will automatically brake immediately, which is very smart. However, he believes that AI coaches are not perfect in teaching, and although the guidance is very detailed, they are not good at explaining the reasons for right and wrong.
Cao Yizhi, a 54-year-old student, could choose an AI coach when he signed up, but he still chose traditional coach teaching, he likes to ask questions at any time, and the coach can answer them at any time.
30-year-old mother Zhang Chan has a different opinion, she likes the AI coach very much, and thinks that AI will say the point and direction more clearly, think more clearly, and take the trouble to remind repeatedly. She regrets not having the experience of AI coaching, and she said that if she chooses again, she hopes that AI coaches and traditional coaches will cooperate in teaching.
After hearing that the driving school has an AI coach, Wang Qijun, a "post-00s" college student, is very happy: "I am a little afraid of society, the coach is watching from the side, I will be nervous and anxious if I make a few mistakes, and the human-computer dialogue will make me comfortable." Wang Qijun is very supportive of the promotion of AI coaching.
"I just want to practice slowly by myself. "It's like playing a game, so I'm sure I'm learning well." ”...... The reporter randomly interviewed and found that more young people tend to the new model of intelligent learning to drive, and they have expressed their willingness to try.
At present, all subjects in Subjects 2 and 3 of the driving test, including reversing into the garage, side parking, ramp fixed-point parking and starting, right-angle turning, curve driving, road driving skills, etc., can be completed under the assistance and guidance of AI instructors.
[3] Will AI steal the jobs of instructors when it enters the driver training industry?
The instructor is teaching the staff to use the smart driver training simulator.
"Actually, as early as 2021, we introduced AI coaches, and initially only installed ten vehicles as pilots. Feng Wei, the person in charge of Wuhan Xinxing Driving School, told reporters that the acceptance of the students and the run-in of the instructors at that time were not ideal, so they could not be vigorously promoted.
Feng Wei said that the original intention of introducing AI coaches was to reduce costs and increase efficiency on the one hand, and on the other hand, technology empowerment can also make learning to drive smarter and safer. He insisted that this was the right path and that "you should keep trying even if you lose money".
After more than two years of exploration and practice, Feng Wei once again made a drastic reform of traditional driving schools last year: replacing traditional training vehicles, introducing new energy training vehicles, implementing a clear price and one fee system, and using an AI driver training system.
Costs are reduced, fees are transparent, and there are real benefits for students. The "one-fee system" of the new driving school has dropped from nearly 5,000 yuan to 3,980 yuan, which is about 1,000 yuan lower than that of the surrounding driving schools. The students generally reported that the environment was better, the service was improved, and the learning to drive was more assured.
"At present, there are 20 AI coaches in this training ground, and we are preparing to introduce 48 of them. Feng Wei believes that with the formalization of the driver training market, it is unstoppable for AI coaches to replace traditional coaches.
However, he doesn't think that traditional instructors will be laid off because of this, "Like all traditional industries that are doing digital transformation, AI driving schools have created new jobs: traditional instructors have sat in the command room. Feng Wei said, "I prefer to call them human-computer interactors." ”
39-year-old Huang Hailiang has been engaged in driving training for 16 years, "After taking the driver's license, I stayed in school and became an instructor, and I was a little confused at first, unable to imagine what I could do if I was not a coach." Huang Hailiang said.
With the in-depth understanding of intelligent driver training and systematic learning, Huang Hailiang soon had a different view. "After the trainees left the simulator, they were indeed different from the previous ones, they had a clear understanding of the basic operations, and it was much easier to get on the bus to practice. With the assistance of AI coaches, Huang Hailiang's work is also more efficient, and he used to manage up to 5 vehicles at the same time, but now he can manage 10 vehicles at the same time.
In recent months, Huang Hailiang has continued to learn new knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence, and at the same time constantly pondered how to improve and improve the way he serves. He believes that traditional coaches still have irreplaceable advantages.
"Coaches can prepare and teach students according to their age, personality, and receptivity, while AI treats everyone equally. Huang Hailiang believes that only by constantly learning new skills and constantly improving one's own advantages can one make himself irreplaceable.
At present, there are more than 100 driving schools in Wuhan, and only two or three have introduced AI driver training. The relevant person in charge of the Wuhan Municipal Transportation Bureau said that the next step will be to encourage, guide and pilot promotion in the whole industry.
Source: Yangtze River Daily
Editor: Xiong Gongjie
Editor-in-charge: Gao Yang Review: Du Hongli Final review: Zou Yan