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Frquently Asked Questions about CyberMINE™
Q Does Thoroughtec offer customer support?
A The simulator is under warranty for the first 30 months. The only costs for the customer during this period will be our Subsistence and Travel to and from site (billed at cost). All labour and materials is free of charge during this period. This warranty can be extended at an additional cost per annum
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Q What process is followed when creating custom simulators?
A The simulator is tailored to the requirements of each mine i.e. customer’s exact requirements in terms of emergencies and scoring are provided for. The Specification is Client specific, based on his requirements, procedures etc. In the first phase of the project, a team from ThoroughTec would travel to the client on a "fact finding" mission. take photos, manuals etc. They would then create a specification against the clients specific requirements. The client is sent a copy of that spec for comments, additions etc. Throughout the project phase the client is required to send a user expert to us to review how the project is going and making sure we all always on the same page.
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Q Are cabs interchangeable?
A Yes, Cabs are interchangeable.
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Q Do you charge R&D?
A No, we do not charge R&D to our clients.
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Q What operating system does the simulator use?
A The system is a windows base program.
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Q What is the quality of visuals?
A The visuals are the largest available with rear projection. We do not "cut" into the container at all. The reason for the large visuals is so that you can place any cab on board at a later stage.
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Q Does the simulator have a housing of it's own?
A The simulator is housed in a standard 6m ISO container. Can stand outside or inside. Will need 220V 50Hz power supply.
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Q Does the simulator support a motion platform?
A Yes, we can provide 2,3 or 6 degree of freedom motion platforms.
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Q Can more than one vehicle cab be used in the same simulator container?
A Yes, cabs are easily swappable and require no special lifting equipment.
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Q Is the simulator built from commercial components?
A Yes, the computing segment is built using latest-generation PC technology running Windows XP and a Microsoft SQL Server database.
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Q Can you export student data from the simulator?
A Yes, the simulator allows the instructor to export all reports in comma-delimited format, ready for importing into external applications such as Microsoft Excel.
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Q Is there a post-exercise review capability?
A Yes, the instructor can replay an exercise for review purposes, allowing pausing, seeking and other VCR-like capabilities.
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Q Can the simulator evaluate the student’s performance
A Yes, the simulator constantly monitors the student’s actions and logs any failures to the instructor’s screen and to the database.
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Q Can vehicle faults be simulated?
A Yes, system can automatically generate faults, or the instructor can manually inject faults at any time while the simulation is running.
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Q Does the simulator support deformable soil?
A Yes, soil can be dynamically removed from the face and dumped into the back of a truck. Soil can spill onto the floor from the back and sides of the trucks.
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Q Does the simulator support computer-controlled mine vehicles and equipment?
A Yes, all vehicles and equipment involved in the mining process are realistically simulated. E.g. Computer-controlled trucks queue and get loaded at shovels and dump at the crushers and waste dumps.
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Q Can the simulator generate productivity reports?
A Yes, haulage reports are generated for haultruck simulators, and loading cycle reports are generated for shovels, excavators and draglines.
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Q What types of mining equipment do you simulate?
A We simulate equipment for both above-ground and underground mining environments.
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The Simulator Hardware
- Accurate simulator cabs based on the actual equipment.
- Choice of Low (2 d.o.f.), Medium (3 d.o.f.) or High-end (6 d.o.f.) motion feedback
- Force feedback through steering wheel for improved realism, simulates - return to center, steering failures, moving center point on camber etc.
- Largest containerised projected displays possible
- Simulators are made unique for each client and the machine will perform as at your site, i.e. if auto retarders engage at 1900 rpm on the ramp exiting the pit, then they can be made to do this on your simulator
- ThoroughTec uses five computers to drive its simulator - this provides optimal performance.
- No violation of container integrity – container can be transported as designed.
- Easy swapping of different cabs
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The Simulator Software
- Accurate simulation dynamics based on actual equipment characteristics supplied by the OEMs.
- User selectable world options.
- Can move the students from one place to the next within the exercise.
- Real time monitoring and evaluation of Operator and vehicle specific sub-systems.
- Exercise pause and resume capability
- Full After Action Review with pause, seek and play functionality.
- Cost reporting.
- Software is customised to provide user/mine specific operating procedures, scoring and emergencies
- Third party systems such as those used for scheduling, positioning, vehicle management etc. can be incorporated at an extra charge.
- High fidelity 3D sound.
- Highly realistic 3D graphics due to state of the art technology, including wind effects on dust and smoke, accurate relevant shadows, earth movement due to digging/disturbance, deformation of faces etc.
- Highest possible graphics frame rates.
- Surfaces in the simulation are fully textured
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After Market Support
- Dedicated support division.
- The 30 month warranty / customer support package is free and feedback from existing customers suggest excellent levels of customer support.
- More than 50% of our simulator sales are to existing customers.
- Use of COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) Equipment provides high reliability and easy maintenance.
- ThoroughTec has military approved Quality Assurance and Configuration Control departments. Complete data-packs and backup software are strictly controlled.
- We train your local staff (IT and/or maintainer).
- Virtually maintenance free with in-built diagnostics.
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Other Advantages
- Simulators can be linked to provide tactical level training.
- Configuration Control Department.
- Quality Assurance Department.
- Armscor Accredited Supplier.
- Siemens Accredited Supplier.
- BAE SYSTEMS Accredited Supplier
- ISO 9001:2000.
- More than 300 simulators deployed
- Over 15 years of simulation experience
- Blue chip clients
- No R&D charges for first-of-class simulators
- ThoroughTec’s R&D effort is extensive and on-going due to defence funded contracts
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