Simulators have been used for decades to train equipment operators and are well-known to enhance training, cut costs, and maximize safety. This is particularly true in industries such as aviation and the military, where the margins of error with expensive equipment like fighter jets and heavy machinery are slim. Simulators offer the opportunity to decrease risk in training, and they can range in fidelity from high-end, custom-built simulators to out-of-the-box, desktop systems.
Today, simulators are widely used to train operators of cranes and other heavy equipment. Top training organizations know it isn’t a question of whether your business requires a simulator—it’s a question of which simulator works best for your needs.
In this article, we explore desktop, mid-range, and full-cabin simulators, with a deep dive into the pros and cons of each, so you can be as informed as possible as you make an investment decision.
Desktop Simulators
A desktop simulator is just what it sounds like—a simulated training option that’s offered through a standard computer, sometimes with joysticks or realistic desk-mounted controls or more immersive VR options. This is the basic training simulation entry point. While on the lower-end of the realism scale, these systems are the easiest to set up and the most affordable, making it easy to add multiple systems to your training center.
Who Wants It?
Any company can invest in a desktop simulator. This is the most popular option for small companies and organizations like smaller ports, high schools, community colleges, and smaller training companies. Larger organizations like bigger ports or military installations may also include desktop simulators in their setup when they’re looking to train entire teams at once.
Why Choose It?
Desktop simulators can offer useful training on several kinds of machines and scenarios, often being the first type of simulator a new operator may use early in their training. From forklifts to gantry cranes, desktop systems can provide basic-level training in a classroom environment. New VR technology, introduced in the 2010s, adds a layer of realism and provides an excellent way to introduce aspiring crane operators to the basics of crane operations, procedures, and some of the physics involved in moving heavy equipment.
Real World Example
A GlobalSim client in Thailand has a robust training setup to train operators simultaneously at several different levels. They have 10+ desktop simulators in addition to 2 full-cabin simulators. The full-cabin simulators limited their training capacity to only 2 people at a time, whereas the desktop stations allow them to train an entire class of new hires in parallel while each waits for their turn in the more immersive simulator.
Why Choose Something Else?
Desktop simulators are inherently limited in the level of immersiveness and realism they can provide. The enormity and complexity of equipment like a ship-to-shore crane is hard to grasp with a view the size of a monitor screen. You’re also limited to just the graphics of the situation—there are no haptics or physics to make the experience feel like it would in the real world. Even if you’re using VR to enhance the desktop simulator, you’re not sitting in a chair that mirrors the actual equipment with matching controls and realistic movement coordinated with your actions. This limits operators’ ability to build the muscle memory needed to safely navigate difficult or emergency situations. However, desktop simulators are by far the most affordable option.
Mid-Range Simulators
Mid-range simulators upgrade your training capabilities dramatically compared to desktop systems. They implement realistic physics and haptics, often including movement under the operator’s seat. You can also add in custom control panels and seating to approximate the physical cab of the actual vehicle you’re training for.
Who Wants It?
We see mid-range ports, universities, and military training sites express the most interest in including one or more of these simulators as part of their training set-up.
Why Choose It?
Mid-range systems are great for any organization that wants to provide a more immersive training experience to their crane and heavy equipment crews. This is particularly important when the development of muscle memory is a critical goal of training. Mid-range simulators help bridge this gap better than desktop simulators, decreasing the risks involved with allowing new hands-on expensive equipment.
Overall, these simulators provide a more true-to-work physical experience for trainees, though there are still limitations on the level of realism created for trainees. Depending on the physical peripherals and software, organizations can tailor a mid-range simulator to fit a wide variety of equipment types.
Real World Example
A training organization in Montreal recently used mid-range simulators to expand its training capabilities. They had already invested in a single full-cabin simulator for their headquarters, but they wanted options in their satellite training centers as well. By adding several mid-range simulators, all of their teams could have an on-site option for immersive training without always coming into the headquarters location every time they needed to complete training.
Why Choose Something Else?
Mid-range systems represent the middle option in terms of training fidelity and investment. While it is more affordable than a full-cabin simulator, it does not deliver the full experience. Cost may also become a factor if you’re looking to train an entire team of trainees all at once.
Full-Cabin Simulators
A full-cabin simulator is the metaphorical Rolls-Royce of training simulators. These systems introduce multiple screens for maximum visuals, they’re mounted on a motion base to simulate the physical weight and haptics of the machinery, providing the operator with the nearest-to-life technology available. Crane training does not get better than this without literally putting a trainee in the seat of a gantry crane.
Who Wants It?
Typical clients include top military training facilities, larger companies and universities, and major ports (moving 500,000+ TEUs annually) that desire to train on a simulator rather than expensive machinery used in daily operations.
Why Choose It?
If you’re looking for the ultimate training experience, there’s no better option than a full-cabin simulator. While desktop systems can bring graphical fidelity and mid-range simulators introduce a haptic experience, full-cabin simulators bring it all together with a physical element neither previous option can compete with.
Whether in an enclosed Advanced simulator or Full Mission cabin, trainees sit in OEM chairs with complete controls identical to the machinery they’ll soon operate. Flexible programming options allow trainers to create nearly any scenario, whether simulating a disorganized port, a weather emergency, or the conditions that led up to the latest accident (or near-accident). This control and flexibility allow trainers to get trainees up to speed in days or weeks when it would have taken months to do so with the real equipment.
Real World Example
A client in Rotterdam wanted to find the best simulator for their needs. As part of their exploration, they visited GlobalSim’s office. While they were impressed by the programming at all three system types, they couldn’t ignore the immersiveness provided by the Full Mission simulator. They chose cutting-edge over cutting costs.
Why Choose Something Else?
Cabin simulators are fully customizable, vehicle-sized simulators with a price tag of roughly 3x more than a mid-range system and a large footprint. For anyone considering a cabin simulator regardless of the cost, there’s also the matter of real estate. Full-mission cabins can fit into a standard office environment with a standard 9 ft. (2.8 meters) ceiling; however, the flagship Advanced system requires at least a 14 ft. (4.3 meters) ceiling and plenty of floor space to make room for the motion base-mounted cab.
Which System Works Best For You?
At the end of the day, the right simulator for your needs comes down to the immersiveness you desire and your budget. No matter the operation you’re running, there’s a simulator solution to spare your equipment from risk and excess wear.
Ultimately, experiencing the different systems for yourself will go a long way in helping you make your investment decision.
At GlobalSim, we invite you to visit our headquarters for a demonstration or schedule a consultation to review your needs.
