CM Labs Introduces 3-Person Crew Simulation for Heavy Equipment Training

CM Labs Simulations has launched Intellia 3-Person Crew Training, a new simulation-based solution that allows excavator, articulated dump truck and dozer operators to train together in real time.

The system places three trainees in a shared virtual environment where they can coordinate operations, practice earthmoving tasks and build communication skills without the risks and costs of using live equipment.

“Teamwork is an essential part of heavy equipment operation, and yet it’s also one of the hardest to train for,” said Alan Limoges, manager of product growth and partnerships. “The costs associated with having three pieces of equipment reserved for training, along with the added safety risks of having several inexperienced operators working together, present an enormous challenge for getting crews ready for busy worksites. We developed 3-Person Crew Training to help address these problems by making it easier and safer for teams to practice real life situations together.”

The platform features an open sandbox environment, giving instructors flexibility to design scenarios for skill development. Crews can practice coordination, sequencing and situational awareness while completing earthmoving tasks such as trenching, stockpiling, grading and slope benching.

CM Labs’ simulation technology renders earthmoving with detailed physics, allowing soil to move, spread and clump in realistic ways. Machine-to-machine interaction enhances the experience. “When the excavator dumps dirt into the ADT, the trainee operating the ADT feels the motion of the dump truck as the dirt hits the trailer,” Limoges said. “These details and this realism enhance learning outcomes because skills learned in the simulation translate to real work environments. It enhances safety because trainees learn the same cues and sensations they’ll have with real equipment.”

Intellia 3-Person Crew Training requires a minimum of three simulators and is compatible with CM Labs’ Edge Plus, Edge Max and Advantage systems.

CM Labs, which has more than 25 years of experience and over 1,300 installations worldwide, develops simulation-based training tools for construction, utilities and port operations.