Although the crane tower simulator can be monitored by generic controls, our system allows the use of controls that simulate keypads used in reality for the tower cranes operation, making the feelings during the simulation the most realistic possible.

In the simulation environment we can find the elements that are in a real port. The operators during the simulation can interact with them directly or indirectly.

Tower Crane: crane where the main activity takes place

Avatars: human beings of the working environment that will help both in the simulation exercise and in the theoretical indications of the crane operation

Base

Ballast

Cabin

Cart

Counter-weight

Counter-jib

Slew ring

O. apprehension

Boom

Top of the Tower

Tower

The simulator implements several types of weather situations that may be critical in the real world such as low visibility on a very cloudy day or on a dark night. These conditions are also reflected in the physical operation of the crane, making much more difficult to perform successfully the different exercises on rainy and windy days. It should be noted that implementing new types of exercises is easy if necessary for some specification of a particular case.

All the system of event inputs and analogue signals of the simulator is done in such a way being highly configurable. It can be used from gaming devices to high-level electronic boards. Each client can configure, through a simple user interface, the controls to his/her taste and depending on the type of equipment used.

The simulator includes real sounds of the tower crane movement, work environments, etc. so when the exercises are carried out the feeling of being located in an work area is as realistic as possible. The volume of each type of sound can be configured from the interface to adapt it to any possible environment.

Vertex has a complete instructional design that guides both the learner and the instructor, using the experience of this, in order to maximize the learning capacity of users.

The main functions available are the following:

Multimedia teaching material integrated in the 3D training system

Exercises handbook

Operators’ databases system

Tracking system of the learning programme for each learner.

Obtaining reports, summaries, etc.

Guided practices by sound messages and on the simulator screen

Record of non-allowed and dangerous operations

Every time an exercise is performed on the simulator, the necessary data is stored to proceed with the evaluation of the exercise itself. Users can access this information shown by an exercise report. This report contains important data such as the movements made or the remarkable observations and they are presented to users by charts and graphs showing in detail each one of the evaluated parameters, as well as information of interest such as the time taken to carry out the exercise, number of the exercise done, date, etc.