• Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
    1. Technology

    Caterpillar Heavy Equipment Simulator Teaches Collaboration

    Aug. 14, 2024
    New Simformotion training package allows up to nine operators to train simultaneously.
    Related To: Caterpillar Inc.
    Caterpillar
    Three operator trainees work together in Cat Simulators Collaborative Worksite Training, cleaning up a spoil pile with a dozer and loading the material into an articulated truck with an excavator.
    Three operator trainees work together in Cat Simulators Collaborative Worksite Training, cleaning up a spoil pile with a dozer and loading the material into an articulated truck with an excavator.

    Simformotion Caterpillar Simulators Collaborative Worksite Training package allows up to nine trainees to operate dozers, excavators, and articulated trucks simultaneously in the same virtual environment.

    Working as a team in a virtual construction environment, the goal is to have learners gain experience loading trucks, moving materials, cleaning up spoil piles, and accomplishing other tasks together, according to Caterpillar. 

    Caterpillar
    A heavy equipment operator trainer uses the Manager’s Workstation to watch three trainees learn how to work together as they operate.
    A heavy equipment operator trainer uses the Manager’s Workstation to watch three trainees learn how to work together as they operate.

    “Our new Collaborative Worksite Training package provides learners with a realistic, hands-on experience of working with other operators as a team in the same virtual construction site environment,” said Vanessa Price, VP of Simformotion, in a statement. “It’s no longer about just one learner completing training successfully, now it’s a team learning how to work together efficiently, effectively and safely.”

    Simulation offers a safe alternative to using machines for equipment training—with no need to take a costly machine out of production, worry about the weather, or, most importantly, worry about the operator’s or others’ safety on the construction site.

    The Collaborative Worksite Training package is available in multiple languages and includes a method for recording and reporting the results of each learner’s simulation session, comparing their performance to Caterpillar benchmarks.

    Operators can choose from a full simulator system with a motion platform or compact SimLite models. Both feature Cat controls and VR Edition that enables users to experience a larger view of the environment with greater depth perception.

    The full-size simulators convert from one model to another while using the same base unit and conversion kits, enabling cross-training on more machines and save space.