In order to resolve the current situation where the supply of job seekers is not keeping up with the increasing demand for bus drivers, the company is working hard to reach out to the silver generation in addition to developing inexperienced people, potential candidates, and young people.

The company's real-life events were temporarily closed during the pandemic in 2020, and even after the situation subsided, society as a whole continued to avoid contact-based events. However, as the country faced the so-called "logistics 2024 problem," it became increasingly difficult to recruit bus drivers overall, and in recent years demand for real-life events has been increasing again. Against this background, the company held two events in 2024 using the large venue of the Shinjuku NS Building. As there were few large-scale industry-specific events, it received positive feedback from participating companies about the effectiveness of the event in matching talent. With the aim of expanding the venue further in 2025 and attracting more corporate participation, voices arose within the company asking whether they could organize any activities rather than just a talk session. As a result, there was a movement to revive the simulator events that had been held before the pandemic, and this time, it was decided to introduce Forum8's bus driving simulator again.

AiDEM CORPORATION held its first hands-on event using this bus driving simulator at the BusGear Expo Tokyo 2025, a joint company briefing held at Lumine Zero in Shinjuku in May 2025. A total of 40 companies exhibited, and the company was able to provide a driving simulation experience to many participants.

"The simulator uses a steering wheel that is similar to the real thing, and incorporates simulations such as actually going around bus stops and opening and closing the doors in the VR space, so I really feel that it is much more realistic than the system I was using previously. In addition, some participants who had no prior experience driving a bus but experienced the simulator commented that it was helpful to actually understand the differences in sensation between standard and large vehicles, such as the size of the vehicle and the timing of turning the steering wheel, as well as bus-specific issues that need attention when driving," said Mr. Shimoichi.

Planning using the simulator is also helpful in attracting people to events. Not only are current job drivers, mainly in their 40s and 50s who have traditionally been the majority of participants, are needed to be ready to work immediately, but with the current labor shortage as a backdrop, bus companies are placing emphasis on how to recruit young people and inexperienced people who will lead the next generation. Mr. Shimoichi said that the simulator is also contributing to approaching such personnel.

"The period from May to June is especially busy for new graduates looking for jobs the following year, and in fact, there were some university students among the participants in this event. Naturally, students had only a regular driver's license, and experiencing the simulator helped them get a realistic idea of ​​what it was like to drive a bus. It also made them feel a little closer to a bus company and deepened their understanding of the work."

BusGear Expo The expo held in May of this year. Forty companies participated, the total number of visitors exceeded 200, and the event garnered significant interest as a specialized event focused on the bus industry. At the event booth, the simulation experience was offered in two formats: with a headset for immersive experience, and also as a screen-only experience to minimize motion sickness.

When driving a bus, it is essential to constantly be aware of the surrounding environment and pay attention to passengers. The simulator used at the event was well-received because it offered a realistic driving experience, including features such as visual confirmation and mirror checks, and also reflected the latest traffic conditions, such as the increasing number of electric scooters on the roads. In addition to being able to reproduce the fine details of actual roads, one of the benefits of VR simulation is that once the data is created, it can be continuously used by updating the scenario or expanding the space in response to changes in traffic conditions.

UC-win/Road Bus Driving Simulator After the scenario starts, a driver follows instructions displayed at the top of the screen and operates the bus to a bus stop. Driving according to lane restrictions caused by obstacles or construction sites Electric scooter swerving into the road A warning will appear if the bus collides with an obstacle. Stopping at the bus stop Right turn at intersection Viewing the bus movements from a bird's-eye perspective

"This time, we used data focusing on safe driving practices for regular bus routes, but with inbound tourism rapidly recovering recently, we're considering expanding our services to include simulations for companies operating express buses and tourist buses, focusing on topics like traffic congestion and highway driving. We are also considering offering simulated bus driving training for experienced drivers who hold a large-vehicle driver's license, not only for recruitment purposes but also for employee training and development. Furthermore, since the VR data allows for easy modification of the bus's color and design, some participating companies have expressed interest in using this feature to customize the bus's appearance, such as by incorporating their corporate colors or reflecting the characteristics of their specific route, for their own events."

The BusGear Expo 2025 will kick off with an event in Tokyo in May, and will then hold a total of six in-person events in Osaka (Umeda), Yokohama, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Omiya. The UC-win/Road Bus Driving Simulator will be displayed at all the events. In addition, given the demand from bus companies across the country, it is considered holding the event in a hybrid format, and the company is also exploring the possibility of utilizing metaverse technology for online events.

Members of the advertising sales department