Skid Steer Simulator

Skid Steer simulator

The skid steer loader, also called skidsteer or skid loader, is a versatile, four wheel drive, mobile machine most often equipped with a bucket or forks to perform a wide variety of tasks in construction and material handling.

And because of its small size and simple operator controls, the skid steer loader is often considered entry level, where operator training begins.

Practically, danger is always present, and injuries are most often caused by rollovers. In particular, a skid steer loader will become unstable when the bucket or forks are overloaded, when carrying loads with the lift arms raised too high, or when driving up and down slopes. Clearly, for all of these reasons, operator training is especially important. Time for new simulator-based help!

The new Skid Steer Loader Personal Simulator, the world’s first, puts you at the controls of a typical skid steer loader equipped with either a bucket (there are two kinds) or forks, at work in a typical construction site.

Three configurations are offered for the simulator controls, to reproduce the most common kinds of operator controls in the cabin of real skid steer loaders (ISO, H-Pattern, Standard with pedals).

There are many software options to change the colours of the 3D model, to change the lift path type (lift arm geometry), and to select one of two buckets.

Like all our leading products, you can set up either one display in front where space is limited, or three displays in front to create a 180 degree “panoramic” view.

And all you need is one off-the-shelf computer. Either purchase your own off-the-shelf PC or choose the convenience of our PC bundle with software already installed, licensed, and ready to go.

Video demonstration of the skid steer simulator

Skid Steer Personal Simulator

 

Software description

The Skid Steer Loader simulation software features many software options to configure what you see and do, to reproduce the operator controls of the most common kinds of (real) skid steer loaders.

Configuration Parameters for Machine Characteristics

There are three configuration parameters for machine characteristics, as follows:

  • choose one of two colour combinations
  • choose “Vertical” or “Radial” lift path types (lift arm geometries)
  • choose the “general purpose” bucket without teeth, or the “rock” bucket with teeth

Simulation Modules:

A total of eight Simulation Modules will present training scenarios typical of real skid steer loader work and for each one, key “Performance Indicators” will measure how quickly and how carefully the simulated work is performed, as well as tracking events related to safety and operating procedures.

Especially important is the Performance Indicator related to rollover, to detect an imminent overturn condition.

For the bucket attachment:

  • Controls Familiarization, to learn the “what does what”
  • Positioning, with targets for both the bucket and forks
  • Stockpiling 1, to load, move, and dump rough material on the ground using the bucket
  • Stockpiling 2, as before but now working on slopes, so driving up and down
  • Truck Loading, like “Stockpiling” but now loading a dump truck

For the forks attachments:

  • Load Handling 1, with initial and target positions for the loads on the ground
  • Load Handling 2, as before but now working on slopes, so driving up and down
  • Load Handling 3, as before but now loading and unloading a flatbed truck

In addition, there are two “Demo’s” for “freestyle” simulated work with the two attachments, the bucket and forks.

Key Features

  • Highly realistic simulation graphics and physics
  • 8 Simulation Modules of increasing difficulty
  • 57 Performance Indicators to comprehensively evaluate the simulated work
  • 2 Procedure and Fatal errors to detect incorrect and unsafe operator actions
  • Many kinds of USB-ready simulator controls and mounting options
  • Three possible Joystick Patterns: ISO, H-Pattern, Standard Controls (with pedals)
  • Support for multiple displays
  • Configuration parameters to modify colours, lift path type, and bucket type
  • Viewpoints from inside and outside the cabin that can be changed during simulation
  • HD Instructional Video for each Simulation Module
  • e-book Instructional Companion

Tracking results

Key Performance Indicators

Key “Performance Indicators” measure how quickly and how carefully the simulated work is performed.

With 57 Performance Indicators, feedback is diagnostic instead of just a consolidated pass/fail score. They include execution time, average and maximum driving speeds (forwards and backwards), measurements about how precisely loads are picked up and put down (errors in orientation, centering, etc.), and counting many kinds of collisions (bucket, forks, loads, obstacles, etc.).

A variety of incorrect operating conditions will trigger “Procedure Errors” such as driving “out of bounds”.

Finally, conditions related to safety will trigger a “Fatal Error” that immediately stops the simulation related to rollover, to detect an imminent overturn condition.

Simulation Manager

Simulation results are automatically saved, along with the occurrence of any “Procedure Error” or “Fatal Error,” 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.

Software pricing

Low Total Cost of Ownership

Real affordability, that’s how Simlog sets the standard in cost-effective simulation.

First, the software license is a one-time purchase, with no restrictions on the number of people that you can train.

Second, this software is designed to be used with off-the-shelf (Windows) PCs, displays, speakers, etc. And our USB-ready simulator controls incorporate no special interface or proprietary electronics, so they can be easily, and individually, replaced as needed over time.

Quick Return on Investment

The fact is, training with our Personal Simulator costs very little compared to training with a real mobile crane.

First, consider what you pay to own and operate that equipment, plus the time spent by your instructor to supervise the training. Then there are the costs associated with even small accidents due to inexperience, often thousands of dollars in replacement parts and downtime. There are merchandise costs too, because loads will inevitably be damaged or “lost”. Finally, there’s always the risk of injury (or worse).

Now compare all that to training with our skid steer personal simulator, and it’s easy to see that your return on investment will be quick!

Contact us for more information

For more information about this Skid Steer simulator, please contact us at 800-942-2886 or 262-910-1376 or via e-mail at info@vista-training.com.