Oh what a feeling ...
Staff reporter, 23 June 2008
THE step up from riding a bicycle to driving a Toyota LandCruiser on a mine site has been made simpler and safer by an Australian company that is also helping mine operators train dump truck, excavator and dozer drivers faster and more effectively.
Immersive Technologies has supplied Caterpillar, Liebherr, Komatsu and other mining equipment training simulators to mines in Zambia, Tanzania and other parts of Africa, and Asia, where “green” operators have no previous experience of driving a car, let alone operating a 500-tonne dump truck in a mine surrounded by other super-sized equipment.
“Used in conjunction with the [Immersive] Advanced Equipment Simulator, the Light Vehicle Conversion Kit is a realistic training tool which replicates the driving characteristics and handling of off-highway road conditions found within mine site environments,” the company says.
Immersive has supplied about 380 simulator modules in 23 countries.
A spokesperson told HighGrade: “Our Light vehicle simulator is based on a specific make and model, however, the nature of training objectives associated with light vehicles makes this less relevant [than heavy equipment] hence our focus on presenting it in a generic format.
“The major advantage in exposing green trainees to mine environments/some conditions is that, overall, it’s safer for both the light vehicle driver and other equipment drivers – it makes everyone more conscious and aware of the dangers posed by the light vehicle operating in the environment. The simulator will train light vehicle drivers to deal with hazardous conditions in the field, various landscapes and environments, and to avoid blind spots associated with haul truck drivers.
“We expect the product to sell equally well in all regions globally as it’s a product relevant to all markets.”
Immersive said industry statistics showed light vehicle accidents were one of the main causes of injuries and fatalities on mine sites.
Built to operate as either a right or left hand drive, the product includes a fully operational manual transmission and features operating controls common in 4WD vehicles. Particular attention has been placed on recognising and avoiding visual blind spots using unique visual aids which can be activated to demonstrate the inability of haul truck drivers to see the light vehicle when in close proximity.
The Light Vehicle Simulator also instructs trainees on how to respond to emergency situations, incorporates highly realistic off-road conditions and simulated landscapes and environments for all scenarios, including night operations and driving in rain or dust.
Also in the June 23 - 29, 2008 edition
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- COVER STORY
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- EXPLORATION
- Evelyn juts, reveals potential
- FINANCE
- Bonwick casts several lines
- Prophet Vendt lets off some steam over Monarch
- Technology key ingredient in new Cook coal plan
- INSIGHT
- Australians idle?
- INTERCEPTS
- Katanga dodges DRC bullets
- Zinc miners should get back to the merger table
- MEDITERRANEAN'S GHOST
- Goliath back ... with an army of lawyers
- PROJECT WATCH
- Kanyika gets initial thumbs up
- ReGENERATION
- 60 seconds with Mat Longworth
- Heron turns bird of prey
- TECHNOLOGY
- Freeport vs Rio in robotic drill race
- Technology not yet on the map
- UnCUT
- Gold, Aditya Birla
- VIEW FROM THE WEST END
- Mining can wait