“Over the past 18 to 24 months, approximately 50% of the programs we have been following have been delayed or postponed because of the economy. However, other new customers and organisations have increased their interest in training simulation. In fact, over the past 30 days we have been awarded contracts to purchase 12 new crane and MHE training simulators. In addition, we are planning for an additional 6 training systems to be awarded to GlobalSim over the next 60 to 90 days. We have not seen any actual program cancellations, just delays.” Also emphasising the positive news CMLabs’ Paoletta says that the company’s Vortex Simulators are well positioned for this type of economic climate as they can be offered using common, off-the-shelf display systems which keep acquisition and maintenance costs comparatively low. “For example, a Vortex Ship-to-Shore crane operator training simulator using a set of flat-panel LCD displays offers equivalent visualisation quality and training value as projection based systems. However, the LCD based system is much more affordable and requires much less maintenance. Other customers have benefited from government stimulus grants to put towards the purchase of simulators. Several grants were available, in late 2009, for apprenticeship training innovation and for investment in “green” training technologies. Simulation-based training systems were considered a green approach to training and some customers were able to finance the purchase of simulators through such grants. This kept our sales pipeline healthy.”
Technology advances
In terms on innovation Paoletta highlights the advancement of real-time physics simulation. He explains that computer graphics processors are now so much more powerful than they were just a few years ago. They can now support physics simulation software packages that require higher computing power to provide high levels of accuracy. This has enabled modern simulators to offer extremely realistic virtual environments, in terms of physical behaviour. With improved realism and accuracy, the operational skills learned through a simulator are even more directly transferable to the real world. This realism in physics also enables the accurate simulation of more complex activities, such as tandem crane lifts, sub-sea lifts and of more complex heavy equipment. Other innovations to note include the ability to integrate multiple roles into a single virtual environment. The Vortex Simulators, for example, now enable trainees to take on the roles of operator, signalman and rigger in the same virtual environment for complete team-based learning. Advances in IT technologies and display technologies are also making simulators more affordable. In particular, the lower cost flat-panel display systems can now offer the same quality visuals as the projection-display systems which were more commonly used in the past. Flat-panel displays systems also have a smaller footprint and require much less maintenance. Stauffer also highlights several significant technology advances that have directly benefited the training simulation industry. Like Paoletta, Stauffer cites advances made to image generation technology, physics modeling, and software development tools. “Current generation video boards provide high fidelity and very realistic out-the-window scenes during trainer operation. Coupled with low cost display systems, this allows the student to become more immersed in the training scenario and helps to suspend disbelief,” says Stauffer. He points out that several new commercial packages are available that provide for an extremely high degree of fidelity with the software that models the physical characteristics of the operational cranes/MHE. “These tools allow our engineers to more accurately program how the equipment reacts to student or environmental actions. By developing the trainer software using current generation tools, a larger percentage of the effort is reusable for future projects and less development intensive. Each of these advances has helped in the development of training simulators that provide a very high degree of fidelity at a more affordable cost,” concludes Stauffer.
Reporting success in challenging times
Recent US successes highlighted by CMLabs include orders for Vortex simulators and products from University of Southern California, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Montana Operating Engineers Apprenticeship and Training. For PNI Training (based in Stavanger, Norway) the company delivered a training simulator for all crane types. This simulator is unique as it will integrate the functions of a complete lift team in a single virtual environment. Students acting as crane operator, signaller and rigger will each work from their own workstation and have to communicate and collaborate to successfully complete complex lift exercises. This is a unique capability for crane operator training simulators and CMLabs will bring this capability into its port crane simulators as well. GlobalSim lists a healthy order book received over the past 6 months including for the Port of Antwerp, Belgium an ML6000 crane and MHE training system configured with models for a ship-to-shore crane, mobile harbour crane, and straddle carrier; also for Port of Antwerp an ML4000 crane training system upgrade and ML5000 straddle carrier upgrade; for Port of the Americas, Puerto Rico – ML4000 crane training system configured with models for a ship-to-shore crane and mobile harbour crane; for US Army Transportation School, USA – eleven ML3000 forklift training systems configured with a model for a heavy lift forklift; for Royaume Du Maroc Agance Nationale Des Ports, Morocco – ML6000 crane and MHE training system configured with models for a ship-to-shore crane, mobile harbour crane, RTG crane, boom jib crane, and straddle carrier; for CSX Intermodal, USA – ML4000 crane training system configured with a model for a cantilevered rail-mounted container crane; for US Navy Reserve Training School, USA – ten ML3000 forklift training systems configured with a model for a heavy lift forklift.