A South African simulator maker has released an updated version of its mining simulator training platform.

Simulation has become one of the key training tools in the mining sector. One of the key players in this area, ThoroughTec, has unveiled its fourth-generation mining equipment simulators. The CYBERMINE⁴ range builds on the success of the previous generations.

The most notable addition to the CYBERMINE⁴ range is the option for a 360-degree panoramic display screen. This completely immerses the student in the simulated mining world. Students can use all four screens when operating the equipment, providing increased awareness of surroundings and greater overall accuracy in simulator training.

The CYBERMINE instructor station and reporting software also have been upgraded for improved training and operator analysis. The instructor station now has two wide-screen high-definition displays. This gives the instructors the ability to assist and guide the student in a full fly-around view while still keeping an eye on their performance and the vehicle diagnostics.

Provision has been made to hook up one or both instructor screens to external audience viewing displays to foster classroom discussion and commentary on operator performance.

“We provide instructors with all the tools necessary to make informed decisions regarding operator competence, performance and respect for safety,” ThoroughTec business development manager Justin Collins said.

“The software automatically identifies operational violations such as speeding, simultaneous brake and accelerator engagement and incorrect gear selection, to which the instructor can then take corrective action with the student to eliminate these vibrations and thus save the mine a fortune in unnecessary maintenance bills and prevent hazardous safety situations.”

In developing its CYBERMINE⁴ platform ThoroughTec set out to redefine its technology by drawing on its own experience, extensive client base, research, original equipment makers, training institutions and military technologies developed over the past two decades.

The company actually started out providing simulations for the military in its native South Africa. As these soldiers rotated back into civilian life they started asking whether such simulators could be created for mining. From its CYBERWAR platform, CYBERMINE was created.

“Our aim in simulator development has always been to cost-effectively provide our clients with the most relevant, realistic and reliable simulator technology in the mining industry,” Collins said.

“Over the past few years maturing training requirements, amazing technological developments and our profound understanding of surface and underground mining simulation have driven our product improvement process unrelentingly.

“All of the best features, qualities and experience of more than 20 years of simulation experience bundled into a single system.”

CYBERMINE⁴ simulators keep the six and three degree-of-freedom motion platforms for surface and underground mining simulation respectively.

These platforms add the motion cues needed to make the simulation more realistic.

“The feeling and response one gets from the mining equipment while mining is crucial to understanding what is happening with the vehicle,” Collins said.

“As an example, simply by paying attention to the motion cues a student will be able to identify when they are pushing the vehicle too hard or digging too deep, heightening their awareness of machine limits and honing their senses for effective operation.”

Realising that many mines have both surface and underground mining operations in a common region, ThoroughTec has developed a cross-platform adaptor kit. This means clients only have to buy one CYBERMINE⁴ simulator base unit to operate both surface and underground simulator cabs.

“Clients that have purchased CYBERMINE simulator cabs in the past need not worry about replacing them when upgrading to the fourth-generation simulators as we have taken great care to ensure CYBERMINE⁴ simulators are completely backward compatible with all of our cabs already working in the field,” Collins said.