Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator

Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator Replica Controls

Simlog Replica Controls for the Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator feature industrial strength components suitable for both table-top mounting and Simlog’s Operator Chair. If you are a Simlog customer, you may be able to re-use the Replica Controls that you already have.

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, add the Logitech “G920 Driving Force Racing Wheel” consisting of a steering wheel and a three-pedal unit, and the Transmission Control Lever suitable for many other Personal Simulators. (The Logitech “Driving Force Shifter” can also be used.)

Transmission Control Lever Replica Controls - 8 push-buttons with Simlog's Tabletop Mounting Brackets Logitech G920 Steering Wheel Logitech G920 Pedals

 Possible Setups

Here are four possible arrangements, one with a single display in front that is wall-mounted, another with one front display and one rear display on a table, one with three displays in front arranged side-by-side on a table, and finally one with three front displays and a fourth rear display.

Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator - Replica Controls - 1 Display Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator - Replica Controls - Front and Rear Displays Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator - Replica Controls - 3 Displays Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator - Replica Controls - 4 Displays

Custom Travel Cases for Replica Controls

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

Travel Case for Simlog Personal Simulators - Opened Travel Case for Simlog Personal Simulators - Stacked Travel Case for Simlog Personal Simulators

 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″ (76cm) x 24″ (61cm) x 19″ (50cm)
• Approximate weight: 50 lbs. (23 kg) when empty, up to 100 lbs. (46 kg) when full (depending upon the Replica Controls.)

Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator Operator Chair

Simlog’s Operator Chair with industrial controls offers a superior simulation experience to train Backhoe Loader operators thanks to an authentic operator seat with consoles for the left and right hands, and an adjustable steering column. All are mounted on an industrial platform with casters, for easy portability.

The industrial steering wheel is mounted on a column that telescopes and easily pivots to numerous angles and it includes three industrial pedals.

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.

8 Push-button Joystick for Operator Chair Steering Wheel Industrial Pedals

 Key Features

• Authentic industrial operator seat, with 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 joystick controls
• Full steering column with pivot and telescope capabilities
• Fully functional industrial style pedals
• Steel platform with heavy-duty casters for easy portability

 Specifications

• Overall Dimensions: L 60” (152.4 cm) x W 30” (76.2 cm) x H 47” (119.4 cm)
• Weight: 385 lbs. (175 kg)
• Shipping Dimensions: 67″ (170.2 cm) x 43″ (109.2 cm) x 44″ (118.8 cm)
• Shipping Weight: approximately 550 lbs. (250 kg) One unit per skid, not stackable
• 120 VAC/60 Hz, 220-240VAC/50 Hz

 Possible Setups
Here are four possible arrangements, one with a single display in front, one with a first display in front and a rear display, one with three front displays and a rear display and one with three front displays and a fourth rear display.

Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator - Operator Chair - 1 Display Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator - Operator Chair - Front and Rear Displays Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator - Operator Chair - 3 Front Displays Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator - Operator Chair - 3 Front Displays and 1 Rear Display

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.

Vibration System for Simlog's Personal Simulators 2 Vibration System for Simlog's Personal Simulators

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, Skid Steer 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.

To learn more, please contact Simlog.

Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator 

The following Simulation Modules present training scenarios typical of real backhoe loaders:

 Simulation Modules

• Controls Familiarization
• Bucket Positioning, for driving forwards and backwards with separate targets for the loader and backhoe buckets
• Stockpiling, to move material from a digging zone to a dumping zone with the loader bucket
• Truck Loading – Loader, using rocks
• Following Grade, with the backhoe
• Truck Loading – Backhoe, using rocks
• Trenching
• Exposing Underground Utilities – Parallel, piping is aligned with  the positioning of the Backhoe Loader
• Exposing Underground Utilities – Perpendicular

 Key Performance Indicators
Key “Performance Indicators” measure how quickly and how carefully the simulated work is performed. With 62 unique Performance Indicators, feedback is diagnostic, instead of just a consolidated pass/fail score. They include execution time, bucket orientation errors, hydraulic slams and collisions.

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 Backhoe Loader overturn condition will trigger “Fatal Errors” and the simulation immediately stops.

Here we present just a few of the Backhoe Loader Personal Simulator videos from Simlog’s YouTube channel.