Bulldozer Personal Simulator

Software Description

There are seven “Simulation Modules” of increasing difficulty, starting with Controls Familiarization and then progressing through Bulldozer Positioning, Boulder Control, Backfilling 1 and 2, Slot Dozing, and finally Spreading. Many different kinds of situations are presented, in order to address the training needs of a wide variety of customers using different operational practices. You can even use the keyboard function keys and mouse controls during the simulation to change the point of view, to present views from outside the cabin e.g. to the left/right and up above, to better “understand” the simulated work.

Simlog’s Bulldozer simulation software can be configured to simulate the behavior of a wide variety of bulldozers. For example, you can use separate pedals for Decelerator and Brake, or just a single pedal that combines both functions, to reproduce the different pedal arrangements found in real bulldozers. You can also activate (or not) “counter-rotation” so that when making a tight turn, the two crawler tracks will turn in opposite directions, since this kind of control is typical of some, but not all, bulldozers. You can even set the blade functions to be faster or slower!

Seven Simulation Modules of Increasing Difficulty:

• Controls Familiarization
• Bulldozer Positioning
• Boulder Control
• Backfilling 1
• Backfilling 2
• Slot Dozing
• Spreading

Key Performance Indicators

Key Performance Indicators measure how quickly and how carefully the simulated work is performed including execution time, collisions, and criteria related to how well a trench is backfilled, is excavated, etc. With more than 20 Performance Indicators, feedback is diagnostic, instead of just a consolidated pass/fail score.

A variety of incorrect operating conditions will trigger "Procedure Errors", such as driving "out of bounds". Finally, conditions related to safety receive special attention: a forklift overturn condition, or a load falling from a pallet or a shelf, will trigger "Fatal Errors" and the simulation immediately stops.

Simulation Manager

Simulation results are automatically saved, so trainees can progress at their own pace without trainer supervision. To simplify the record-keeping, Simlog offers a database product called Simulation Manager, and the same database can be used with all of our Personal Simulators.

Low Total Cost of Ownership & Quick ROI

Real affordability, that’s how Simlog sets the standard in cost-effective simulation. The fact is, training with our Personal Simulator is a fraction of the cost of training with a real bulldozer, especially considering that even small accidents due to operator inexperience can mean thousands of dollars in replacement parts and downtime. And the purchase of the simulation software license is a one time fee, to keep the total cost of ownership as low as possible, with no restrictions on the number of people that you can train.

The software license, a one-time fee, will pay for itself when you train just a handful of new operators. How? Consider the rising costs of putting a real bulldozer to work with a qualified instructor, the damage and downtime that inexperience can cause, and finally the risk of possible injury. That’s why it just makes sense to prepare new operators with Simlog help. Learn more about reducing training costs and improving training safety by Making the Business Case for your training environment.

Operator Chair for Forklift Personal Simulator

Simlog’s new Operator Chair with industrial controls is a cost-effective way to train bulldozer operators with our Bulldozer simulation software, in a safe and realistic environment. Compared to Table-Top Mounting Brackets, Simlog’s Operator Chair offers a superior simulation experience, thanks to an authentic operator seat with consoles for the left and right hands. All are mounted on an industrial platform with casters, for easy portability.

There are two Multi-Purpose Replica Controls joysticks along with a recessed USB-ready Replica Controls Pedal Unit. But if you already have a Simlog Operator Chair that you are using with some other Personal Simulator, then you may be able to re-configure that Operator Chair by purchasing additional elements.

Key Features

• Authentic industrial operator seat, with headrest, air suspension, and seat-belt
• Adjustable seat position (forward/backwards, three vertical positions)
• Adjustable armrests (in height and angle)
• Integrated left and right consoles for the joystick controls
• Fully functional industrial style pedals
• Steel platform with heavy-duty casters for easy portability

Possible Setups

There are four possible arrangements: one with a single display in front, one with three displays in front arranged side-by-side, one with three displays in front and a fourth display back, and one with three displays in front in portrait mode and a fourth display back in landscape mode.

Operator Chair Specifications

• Overall Dimensions: L 60” x W 34” x H 47”
• Weight: 330 lbs.
• Shipping Dimensions: 67" x 43" x 44"
• Shipping Weight: approximately 550 lbs. One unit per skid, not stackable.

Vibration System

Vibration increases the realism of our Personal Simulators by adding physical (tactile) feedback to the audio and visual, making the experience more “immersive” at little additional cost, especially when compared to a motion platform.

The vibration that you feel is generated from the simulation software’s audio system as things happen. Engine idling, collisions with obstacles, digging virtual terrain, etc. can all be seen, heard, and experienced! Adding vibration improves the realism of the simulation and makes the simulator-based training more compelling, encouraging trainees to be more serious and learn more carefully.

For our Operator Chairs, Simlog offers a vibration system that includes the “ButtKicker Simulation Kit” plus special mounting for the operator seat. The “ButtKicker” is a low-frequency sound transducer equipped with its own amplifier and “volume” controller to change the “force” of the vibration created by the simulation software sounds.

If you are a Simlog customer, then you may be able to re-use the simulator controls that you already have, and just purchase the new Forklift simulation software license.

Bulldozer Personal Simulator Replica Controls

Simlog’s Replica Controls for the Bulldozer Personal Simulator feature industrial-strength components suitable for both table-top mounting and Simlog’s new Operator Chair.

Replica Controls begin with two industrial USB joysticks. There are a total of 8 push-buttons for the thumb, plus a trigger, to let you change the viewpoint by looking to the left/right, looking up/down, and by changing the viewing mode during the simulation. The USB electronics are built right into the base, so the joystick can be connected directly to your PC. Simlog also offers table-top mounting brackets to bring the joysticks down from table-top height to the sides of an ordinary chair, to better mimic the positioning of real controls in the cabin of real heavy equipment.

To complete the Replica Controls, Simlog offers a USB-ready Replica Controls Pedal Unit.

If you are a Simlog customer, then you may be able to re-use the simulator controls that you already have. To learn more, please contact Simlog.

Possible Setups

There are four common arrangements, one with a single display in front that is wall-mounted, other with three displays in front arranged side-by-side on the table, one with three displays on a table in front and a fourth display on a table in back and one with three displays in front in portrait mode and a fourth display on a table in back in landscape mode.

Custom Travel Cases for Replica Controls

For all setups, Simlog’s Custom Travel Case makes transportation easy.

Key Features

• Made-to-measure, with dedicated slots for levers, joysticks, pedals, steering wheel, and table-top mounting brackets
• Space for a laptop PC, cables, and documentation
• Pull-out handle, with multiple positions
• Wheels (casters)
• Cases are “stackable,” for easy transport.

Specifications

• Overall dimensions: 30″ x 24″ x 19″
• Approximate weight: 50 lbs. when empty, up to 100 lbs. when full (depending upon the Replica Controls.)

Multi-Purposing with other Personal Simulators for Heavy Equipment Operations

Typical programs for “Heavy Equipment Operations” provide training on many types of heavy equipment such as (in alphabetical order) Backhoe Loader, Bulldozer, Hydraulic Excavator, Backhoe Loader, and Wheel Loader.

To support such programs, Simlog customers create multi-purpose simulation stations that combine multiple Personal Simulators by using the same computer, the same displays, the same speakers, and especially the same simulator controls.

In this way, Simlog offers unique cost-efficiency and the lowest cost-per-station on the market.

Key Features

• Highly realistic simulation graphics and physics, featuring simulated dirt and boulders
• 7 Simulation Modules of increasing difficulty
• 20 Performance Indicators to comprehensively evaluate the simulated work
• 4 Procedure and Fatal errors to detect incorrect and unsafe operator actions
• Many kinds of USB-ready simulator controls and mounting options
• Support for multiple displays
• Configuration parameters for different pedal arrangements and counter rotation
• Functionality to slow down, or speed up, control functions
• Viewpoints from inside and outside the cabin that can be changed during simulation
• HD Instructional Video for each Simulation Module
• e-book Instructional Companion