Simlog Blog
Simulation for training, as we know it today, began back in 1934 when Ed Link sold his “Pilot Maker” to the (USA) Army Air Corps to help train people to fly the first airplanes. But simulation for training people to operate heavy equipment in forestry, construction, mining, and material handling, continues to be something “new”, and so this blog is meant to help you learn more.
The fact is, after almost 25 years as Simlog’s President (and Founder), and 15 years of work before that in engineering and university research, I’ve developed a unique perspective on what’s really important (and what’s not), and so I hope that you’ll find these entries informative.
Paul Freedman, Ph.D., P. Eng.
Apr 21
2025
2025
“The best employers have the best employees.” Years after COVID-19, companies in all sectors, including logistics, are still struggling to hire (or re-hire) employees. Indeed, according to [1]: While the statistics themselves are a bit fuzzy, by some industry estimates, the typical turnover rate for warehousing is around 37%. This (...)
Apr 14
2025
2025
Operating heavy equipment typically requires the coordinated use of both hands and feet to move levers, joysticks, steering wheels, and pedals. For that reason, simulated work that “mimics” real work can truly help develop the skills required to operate heavy equipment [links to the blog categories “Simulation for Training” and (...)
Feb 27
2025
2025
There is increasing interest in using “Virtual Reality” (VR) Headsets such as Meta’s “Quest” for video gaming [1] and simulator-based training. The idea is simple: when you turn your head, movement is detected by “head-tracking” electronics in the VR headset, and then what you see on the two small displays (...)
Feb 17
2025
2025
The world is changing. Every day, you can see doughnut shops where there used to be farms. But why is this important for heavy equipment operator training?
Feb 12
2025
2025
Being safe: no accidents, no damaged equipment, no personal injury (or worse). That’s why a good lift truck operator is always, first and foremost, a safe lift truck operator. And that’s why the right kind of training simulation places a special emphasis on learning-to-be-safe. But what does that mean? Well, (...)