SIMULATORS
Ready for the real world
Paul Moore spoke in-
depth to the two global
market leaders in
advanced mining
simulators on
everything from
automation to
outsourcing, as well as
reviewing
developments with
other suppliers of
simulator technology
he implementation of more autonomous
mining has implications for more than just
operators; it affects the types of
components supplied, the maintenance regime,
wear parts, the list is a long one. One
interesting area is how autonomy and tele-
remote operations are affecting the business of
the major suppliers of advanced mining
simulators that are used to train operators.
Andre Mendes, General Manager: North
America at ThoroughTec Simulation told IM:
“There is room for both to co-exist
independently and in fact even a need for us to
compliment and support tele-remote providers
with their training needs. A few years back, line-
of-sight remotes were also considered ‘new’ and
just as we incorporated line-of-sight remotes
into our simulators so too can we accommodate
tele-remote training solutions. After all, because
of the operators reliance on software, remote
controls and visual feedback systems when
operating tele-remote systems, the actual
operational experience is extremely close to the
simulated experience. The operator may be
stationed remotely, but he or she still needs to
be trained and the task is arguably more
difficult than traditional manned-operations.”
He adds: “The feedback we have received
from mine sites with tele-remote operations is
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28 International Mining | DECEMBER 2018
that operators struggle to maintain spatial
awareness and properly appreciate vehicle-
ground interaction and forces when interacting
through remote controls and video screens.
Limited field-of-view and an absence of tactile
feedback make it easier to collide with terrain or
interact harshly with other mining machinery.
CYBERMINE Tele-remote and Line-of-sight
simulators are a huge asset when it comes to
addressing these challenges of abstraction,
teaching them how to better approximate their
manned performance when using the remote
systems.”
Andres Arevalo at Immersive Technologies stated
to IM: “While
advancements in mine
automation technology
have created many new
opportunities for
mining companies to
increase safety and
productivity, it has also
created some new
challenges with regards
to workforce training
and development.
Because automation
doesn’t replace humans altogether. Instead it
changes the nature of work that users perform.
The most popular approach to simulation-
based training by far is to locate the simulator,
in this case an Immersive Technologies LX6, as
close to mine operations as possible – to
minimise operator time away from actual
operations
So, user performance plays a critical role in
realising the full potential of autonomous or
tele-remote technologies being deployed
without which it not only results in reduced
operational efficiency but also poses significant
risk to the safety of personnel and equipment.
An effective and consistent way to train,
measure, assess and optimise the skills of
A Liebherr T282B ultraclass haul truck as it
appears on a ThoroughTec CYBERMINE
simulator