Global technology leaders in the mine equipment training and advanced mobile-machine control fields have joined forces to deliver a unique remote control training solution designed to improve mine safety and profitability

Immersive Technologies (IMMT) and RCT have – between them – worked for more than 50 years with the world’s leading mining companies and contractors to deliver smart solutions that have increased productivity and safety at hundreds of mine sites.

IMMT has been the leading innovator in the mine equipment operator training area, while RCT is a respected international supplier of customised mine vehicle control and guidance systems.

While IMMT solutions are focussed on simulation training, allowing operators to learn and practice their skills for mobile equipment tasks, RCT provides its own skills training programs for its ControlMaster® Smart Automation and Control products.

Immersive Technologies (IMMT) recently delivered an Advanced underground loader simulator complete with RCT ControlMaster® CM2000D line-of-sight remote control. The simulator will be used in Kazakhstan to comprehensively train miners in the safe operation of loaders in both manual and remote-control modes.

The prominent Kazakhstan zinc miner has a strong ongoing commitment to safety, conducting remote and tele-remote mining as well as manual loading across many sites to boost production while maintaining high safety levels.

Good training is essential to the miner’s performance, helping to initiate new operators, upskill existing miners and track skill degradation over time.

Simulator training allows operators to be trained and assessed without the need to borrow machines from production. New operators can practice and develop skills before being placed in a mine’s production circuit. Because Immersive Technologies simulatortrained operators are consistently monitored, coached supervised, and assessed on correct operating techniques, they gain a better understanding and knowledge of real-mine machine operation.

Past remote training was only possible with a machine that otherwise would have been assigned to production. The new approach shortens training time, negates the risk and cost of machine or mine damage during training, and speeds the introduction of new operators at mines.

IMMT and RCT have worked together to combine their technology and expertise, interfacing a remote control to an advanced training simulator. This allows customers to improve overall operator training programs.

“Miners can now learn and develop better skills, they can start on manual, then progress to learn Line-of-sight remote control operation, all within the safe confines of a simulator,” said Phil Goode, Senior Business Development Manager with RCT.

“RCT is very excited that our customers can train remote operators on their simulators. Our engineers work with customers to assess and deliver the software and hardware upgrades needed to allow customer to adopt remote control training on their simulators.”

“This will speed up the process to save them time and money.”

Immersive Technologies Executive Director – Marketing, Wayde Salfinger said “We are very pleased with our collaboration with RCT, as it facilitates another way in which Immersive Technologies now delivers productivity and safety improvements to our mining customers. This collaboration ensures our shared customers have access to highly effective remote operation and teleoperation equipment training solutions.”

“Demand in mining is growing for more advanced simulation based training, including for tele-remote and semi-autonomous equipment,” he said.

“RCT and IMMT are ready to meet this demand. Both companies have proven off-the-shelf solutions that are compatible. This combination will drive improved operator performance, machine utilisation and mine profitability.”