Simlog Forklift Simulator
Charise Farag
Scenarios are typical of transportation service centers, factories, warehouses, and distribution centers, with a wide variety of loads and storage arrangements, along with truck bays for loading and unloading and a flatbed truck outside.
You can use three displays in front to create a field of view of 180 degrees, along with a fourth display behind, to teach people to turn their heads when backing up.
And unique to Simlog, all you need is one off-the-shelf computer! You can either use your own PC or choose the convenience of our PC bundle with the Simlog software already installed, licensed, and ready to go in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese.
For viewpoints from inside the cabin, the forklift mast and cabin frame can be displayed as either opaque (like a real forklift) or semi-transparent, to improve the visibility of the forks and the area in front of the forklift, including loads, racks, and obstacles. An "overhead map" presents the position of the forklift, the loads to be moved, and their target positions, to make it possible to plan the work to be done. You can even change the point of view during the simulation using buttons on the simulator controls, keyboard keys, or the PC's mouse.
Key "Performance Indicators" measure how quickly and how carefully the simulated work is performed. With more than 64 Performance Indicators in all, feedback is diagnostic, instead of just a consolidated pass/fail score. They include execution time, average and maximum driving speeds (forwards and backward), measurements about how precisely loads are picked up and put down (errors in orientation, centering, etc.), and counting many kinds of collisions (forks, loads, shelves, etc.).
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 forklift overturn condition, or a load falling from a pallet or a shelf, will trigger "Fatal Errors" and the simulation immediately stops.
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.
Simlog's new Operator Chair with industrial controls offers a superior simulation experience to train forklift 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.
Since typical forklifts are equipped with three or four levers, you will need to use three or four USB-ready Forklift Levers. The fourth lever controls the separation of the forks so if you use three levers instead of four, the simulation software will change the separation of the forks for you. The levers are mounted on the right console, using a special bracket, The left console includes a USB-ready F/N/R Transmission Control Lever. There are also two toggle switches to change the point of view, one in each console. The industrial steering wheel is mounted on a column that telescopes and easily pivots to numerous angles. The Operator Chair also includes three industrial pedals.
There are four commonly used arrangements, one with a single display in front, one with a first display in front and a second display in back (to teach people to turn their heads to look behind when backing up), one with three displays in front arranged side-by-side in portrait mode and one with three displays in front and a fourth display in back.
Since typical forklifts are equipped with three or four levers, you will need to use three or four PC joysticks. (The fourth lever controls the separation of the forks so if you use three joysticks instead of four, the simulation software will change the separation of the forks for you.) Since each forklift lever moves just forward and backward, you will need to move each PC joystick just forward and backward, and the simulation software will ignore any left/right sideways movements.
Practically, stand-up reach lift trucks and sit-down counterbalance lift trucks are often found together, the first working indoors in racking systems that tall and narrow, while the second works indoors and sometimes outdoors to load and unload trucks.
For that reason, some Simlog customers will want to create a multi-purpose simulation station to combine Reach Lift Truck and (sit-down counterbalance) Forklift Personal Simulators, for training people to operate both kinds of lift trucks.
After that, if you have Replica Controls, you will need a special tabletop mounting bracket to re-position the steering wheel and add a steering wheel knob to be able to turn the steering wheel with just the left hand, along with a Replica Control Joystick (we offer different models for horizontal or vertical positioning) and its tabletop mounting bracket for the right hand, and work standing up.
Learn to drive a standard factory forklift with rear wheel steering with the Simlog Forklift Personal Simulator. Available for a one time software licensing fee, Simlog personal simulators pay for themselves quickly. Train as many people as you like at a lower cost than training on a real forklift without the risk of accidents or liability.
Trainees can experience the virtual environment from viewpoints inside and outside the cabin. While operating the forklift from within the cabin, the mast and cabin frame can be opaque to simulate a real forklift, or semi transparent to promote understanding about how the forklift operates within a typical factory, warehouse, or distribution center.
Gain real insight into skills that need additional training and development. Simlog tracks 64 key performance indicators which delivers significantly more information to trainees and instructors than a simple pass fail score. Simlog promotes workplace safety by calling special attention to safety related problems during the training process.
Many different kinds of situations typical of factories, warehouses, and distribution centers are presented, in order to address the training needs of a wide variety of customers using different operational practices.
Simply set up the simulator controls, install the simulation software in English, French or Spanish on your desktop or laptop PC, and begin. Add a big screen display for "life-size" graphics, and quality speakers for the audio feedback. Simlog even offers a vibration system to enhance the simulation experience. There are setup options to suit almost every budget.
Key "Performance Indicators" measure how quickly and how carefully the simulated work is performed. With more than 64 Performance Indicators in all, 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 (forks, loads, shelves, etc.).