Simulation-based training has become a vital part of heavy equipment education, with both screen-based and VR approaches offering distinct advantages. Choosing between them depends on a program’s specific needs, such as training volume, feedback methods, and desired levels of immersion and realism.
Simulation-based training has become a core component of modern heavy equipment operation training, providing a safe environment for learners to acquire critical skills without real-world risks.
As the technology has advanced, two main approaches to simulation have emerged: screen-based training and virtual reality (VR) training. Both methods offer distinct advantages worth considering. To find out which one would best suit your needs, we’ll explore their respective benefits, pitfalls, and practicalities.
Although they had existed for some time, in the early 2010s, VR devices started making waves as they appeared in utilities, ports, and construction training, as well as in other mainstream applications. The idea of fully immersing trainees in a virtual worksite was compelling: Imagine being able to immerse workers in hazardous scenarios without any of the actual risks! Operators could walk around, interact with materials, and make decisions in real time.
The allure of VR for construction training is understandable. It promises a learning experience that closely mirrors real life. When VR first appeared on the market, trainers believed that the more visually immersive the experience, the better prepared workers would be when they stepped onto an actual jobsite.
The visual immersion offered by VR headsets is unparalleled. With a headset on, learners can feel like they are inside the project, surrounded by a 360-degree environment. It’s a level of immersion that engages the senses and reflexes in different ways than traditional screens.
But while VR simulation initially impressed many, as time passed, several challenges associated with using VR for safety training in the construction industry began to surface.
One of the bigger drawbacks of VR devices is that they cut the trainee off from the instructor in the outside world. There are some existing workarounds that allow trainers to display exercises on screens or enter exercises with an avatar. However, these don’t fully compensate for the separation that VR creates. As a result, it can be harder for the instructor to interact with the trainee and provide feedback, evaluate performance, and correct mistakes.
Maintaining VR training equipment is no small feat. The headsets and controllers (or wands) need regular recharging, which adds to the list of tasks instructors and IT staff need to oversee.
Additionally, over time, many find that these devices experience a quicker decline in battery life, making them less reliable during training sessions. Anyone who has had a VR device run out of juice mid-training knows how disruptive this problem can be.
Another often overlooked issue with VR training is hygiene. Headsets and controllers are shared among multiple users, and cleaning them between sessions can be cumbersome. Sweat, oil, and makeup can accumulate on the equipment, raising concerns about cleanliness, especially in environments where many trainees use the same device. This adds an extra layer of responsibility for trainers and can deter some participants from fully engaging with the technology.
When it comes to immersion in simulation, there is a lot more to consider than just visual accuracy. There is haptic immersion experienced through controls, auditory immersion experienced through sound, and motion. VR simulation solutions typically do not come with motion platforms, and the ones that do can cause some issues. A discrepancy of even a few milliseconds between the motion and the VR display can cause your brain to think something is wrong, which can make you feel sick.
Finally, not everyone is comfortable using VR simulation. Some studies claim that between 40% and 70% of people experience motion sickness, headaches, or eye strain after prolonged use. To put that into perspective, it would mean that if you were to train 200 students a year, approximately 80 of them wouldn’t be able to tolerate your VR device. For these individuals, what’s supposed to be an engaging learning experience can quickly become uncomfortable or even unbearable, especially when training for equipment that can provide a “rough ride” from time to time, such as a VR excavator. At CM Labs, our experiences with VR simulation haven’t demonstrated such a high rate of motion sickness. Even so, it is an aspect of VR worth considering when deciding between options.
Screen-based simulation training is another popular approach to simulation training that offers many practical benefits. All over the world, thousands of trainers use screen-based simulators to train operators.
There are several significant reasons why training centers trust a screen-based approach to simulation.
Some screen-based simulators can be equipped with a 2 degrees of freedom (DOF), 3 DOF, or even 6 DOF motion platform. This allows trainees to feel important physical cues they will experience when operating real equipment, which adds another dimension of realism to training. By practicing on a simulator with a motion platform, trainees also gain skills that transfer better to real worksites.
Screen-based simulation training is very reliable: Monitors and computers are well-established technologies with decades of refinement behind them. These don’t become obsolete as quickly as VR devices, which may see a new model every other year. Screen-based simulation training can also incorporate real OEM-grade controls, leading to a training experience that feels just like the real thing. These controls also don’t require frequent recharging. As a result, screen-based simulators tend to have a longer lifespan than VR headsets.
With a screen-based simulator, instructors can easily monitor students, point to the screen, and place hands over controls to demonstrate correct maneuvers. Other students can also watch this training unfold as they wait for their turn on the simulator, making training more efficient and fast. As a result, screen-based simulators are often a favorite among training centers that need to train many students at once.
While there are many practical benefits to opting for screen-based training simulators, no solution is perfect.
As stated before, the immersion of VR simulation is hard to beat. With VR, an operator can turn their head in any direction and see their simulated work environment. Many screen-based setups come with multiple screens (with sometimes as many as ten or 13 screens!) to account for this. However, for many smaller one-screen setups, some visual immersion is sacrificed.
At CM Labs, we investigate every new training technology to properly evaluate its potential and how it could benefit our clients. We’ve seen from experience that many training programs prefer a screen-based approach over VR training. Getting motion sickness from looking at a monitor, while not impossible, is rare. Screen-based simulators also offer reliability and a more comfortable experience for a wider range of users.
However, we also know that every training center is different, and that for some, the benefits of VR simulation make it the best choice for their needs. As a result, we offer the ability to tailor or customize our training solutions for VR.
When deciding which approach would be best for your program, consider the following questions:
- Do you plan on training many students?
- Do you plan to give corrective feedback in the moment during exercises?
- How important is visual immersion to your training needs?
- How important is motion to your training?
If visual immersion is a top consideration for you, then a VR approach may be your best fit. On the other hand, if you plan to train many operators, provide corrective training in the moment, and include motion in your training solution, then a screen-based training approach may be more appropriate. Of course, it is always a good idea to try out solutions before making a final decision in order to ensure that the training simulator you choose is the best fit for your needs.
Want to learn more about whether simulation training may be the right fit for your organization? Find out how to measure the return on investment (ROI) of simulation with our ebook Measuring the ROI in Simulation-Based Training.
