Reach Lift Truck Personal Simulator

Software Description

Reach Lift Truck simulation software features many software options to configure what you see and do, to reproduce the operator controls and steering behavior of the most common kinds of (real) reach lift trucks.

Configuration Parameters

• position the joystick (“control lever”) horizontally or vertically
• control the up/down motion of the forks using the joystick axis or pushbuttons
• choose either “Forward” (Front Directional) or “Reverse” (Rear Directional), for the steering convention

Forks Camera System

To help operators work with loads on high shelves in racking systems, reach lift trucks are often equipped with a Forks Camera System that presents, on a separate display in the cabin, the view from a camera installed between the forks.

Since this functionality is also helpful when training new operators, Simlog’s Reach Lift Truck simulation software features a simulated Forks Camera System, with the display superimposed on the simulation graphics.

Just like real camera systems, the display automatically disappears when the reach lift truck is moving quickly because at speed, the operator should not be looking down at the forks. Then when the reach lift truck is moving slowly or is stopped, the display automatically re-appears.

Simulation Modules

There are seven Simulation Modules of increasing degree of difficulty, as follows:

• Controls Familiarization
• Slalom 1, for driving forwards
• Slalom 2, for driving backwards
• Selective Pallet Racks, standard aisles, low shelves
• Selective Pallet Racks, standard aisles, mixed shelves
• Selective Pallet Racks, narrow aisles, low shelves
• Selective Pallet Racks, narrow aisles, mixed shelves

When working in the racking systems, an “overhead map” is presented to display the position of the reach lift truck, the loads to be moved, and their target positions, to encourage new operators to think about planning the work to be done to become more productive.

In addition, there are three “Demo’s” for “freestyle” simulated work in both standard aisles and narrow aisles.

Viewpoints from Inside and Outside the Cabin

As with other Personal Simulators, the viewpoint can be changed during the simulation.

For viewpoints from inside the cabin, the three displays placed to the left, in front, and to the right present views that are typical of “side stance” positioning when looking backwards, in front, and forwards.

But to help train new operators, you can also present viewpoints from outside the cabin using buttons on the simulator controls, keyboard keys, or the PC’s mouse.

Key Performance Indicators
Key “Performance Indicators” measure how quickly and how carefully the simulated work is performed.

With 47 Performance Indicators, 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 will trigger a “Fatal Error” that immediately stops the simulation such as damage to the pantograph as a result of a collision, a reach lift truck overturn condition, or a load falling from a shelf.

Simulation Manager

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 instructor 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.

Low Total Cost of Ownership

Real affordability, that’s how Simlog sets the standard in cost-effective simulation.

First, the software license is a one-time purchase, with no restrictions on the number of people you can train.

Second, Simlog software is designed for off-the-shelf (Windows) PCs, displays, speakers, etc. And our USB-ready simulator controls incorporate no special interface or proprietary electronics, so they can be easily, and individually replaced over time.

Reach Lift Truck Personal Simulator Replica Controls

Replica Controls for the Reach Lift Truck Personal Simulator feature industrial strength USB-ready input devices and special tabletop mounting brackets to work from a standing position, just like in the cabin of real reach lift trucks.

For the left hand, there is a horizontally-positioned steering wheel, the Logitech “G920 Driving Force Racing Wheel”, that can also be used with many other Personal Simulators. There is also a steering wheel “knob” for turning the steering wheel with just one hand.

(Real reach lift trucks also have pedals, but that’s functionality primarily intended for safety, not operations. For that reason, and to keep costs down, our simulator controls at this time include no such pedals.)

In most countries, the Logitech G920 is for sale in retail stores that sell computers or video games, but it may also be purchased online. (Logitech’s previous model, the “G27 Racing Wheel” can also be used.)

For the right hand, there is a “control lever” (a two-axis joystick) to control travel forwards and backward. The control is proportional: push a little to move slowly; push more to move quickly.

Practically, real control levers are positioned either vertically or horizontally (the most common arrangement) so at Simlog, you can do both.

For vertical positioning, there’s a multi-purpose Replica Control joystick that can also be used with many other Personal Simulators. Moving the joystick forwards/backward controls travel forwards/backward; moving the joystick left/right controls the up/down motion of the forks. Alternatively, with vertical positioning, control of the forks can also be associated with pushbuttons on the joystick.

For horizontal positioning, Simlog offers a different joystick model with a stiffer spring and an oval-shaped face, as shown here. Moving the joystick forwards/backward controls the travel forwards/backward; moving the joystick up/down controls the up/down motion of the forks. (You can also re-position this joystick vertically to train operators in both ways.)

In both cases, pushbuttons on the joystick are used to extend/retract the pantograph, to side shift, to tilt the forks, and to change the viewpoint during simulation e.g. by “leaning” left/right.

Possible Setups
There are two possible setups as follows:

• one display in front, to present the view looking forwards
• three displays placed to the left, in front, and to the right to present views that are typical of “side stance” positioning when looking backward, in front, and forward

Here we present both setups, for the case where the joystick is positioned horizontally.

Custom Travel Cases for Replica Controls

As for other Personal Simulators, Simlog’s Custom Travel Case makes transportation easy.

Key Features

• Made-to-measure, with dedicated slots for the steering wheel, joystick, and tabletop mounting bracket
• 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″.x 24″ x 19″
• Approximate weight: 50 lbs. when empty, up to 100 lbs. when full (depending upon the Replica Controls.)

Key Features

• Highly realistic simulation graphics and physics
• 7 Simulation Modules of increasing difficulty
• 47 Performance Indicators to comprehensively evaluate the simulated work
• 5 Procedure and Fatal errors to detect incorrect and unsafe operator actions
• Many kinds of USB-ready simulator controls and mounting options
• Support for multiple displays
• Configuration parameters for horizontal or vertical positioning of the "Control Lever"
• Viewpoints from inside and outside the cabin that can be changed during simulation
• HD Instructional Video for each Simulation Module
• e-book Instructional Companion

Multi-Purposing with Forklift Personal Simulator

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 the Reach Lift Truck and Forklift Personal Simulators, for training people to operate both kinds of lift trucks.

This means using the same PC, the same displays (you will need to add one more, so a total of four, for Forklift Personal Simulator), the same steering wheel, and the same Simulation Manager.

After that, to complete the Forklift Personal Simulator “Replica Controls”, you will need to add the Logitech “G290 Driving Force” three-pedal unit and gear shifter, along with three or four levers with tabletop mounting brackets (and a chair, to work from a sitting position).