Breakout Session: Tech Trends in Crane & Rigging The impact of technology on your personal life is obvious. But are you leveraging the latest technology to make your company more efficient and safer? Learn from a panel of experts about the benefits and limitations of emerging technology and how it will affect the industry. Panelists: Ted Blanton, Founder and Consultant, North American Crane Bureau (NACB) David Thornton, Senior Technical Product Manager, Fleet Cost & Care Tawnia Weiss, President, AIA Software

1. Technical Trends in
Crane & Rigging
VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) SIMULATION
Ted Blanton
North American Crane Bureau

2. • DiscussionTopics
• History of Simulation.
• Introduction of Simulation IntoThe CraneTraining Arena.
• How DoesVR Simulation Better Aid in Crane OperatorTraining?
• Can Simulation be used to Certify Crane Operators?
• What is the Future ofVR Simulation and OtherTechnologies?
VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) SIMULATION

3. VR Simulation
• History of Simulation
• Simulation was first introduced
into the flight training arena
in1910.
• In its beginnings, simulation
was NOT software driven.
• The flight simulator had
humble beginnings , it was a
simple structure with two-
barrel halves, one mounted on
a pedestal and the other a
swinging structure that
simulated a swinging cockpit.

4. VR Simulation
• History of Simulation
• Flight simulation made forward
strides in bothWWI andWWII.
• Simulation was also being used
to train airline pilots.
• Springing forward to the 1960’s
simulation software and
components were enhanced to
account for an aircrafts pitch,
roll, yaw, and eventually
downward motion.

5. VR Simulation
• History of Simulation
• Today most airline training is
accomplished on multi-million-
dollar simulation platforms.
• Configured specific to a make
and model aircraft, i.e. Boeing
737, 747, etc.

6. VR Simulation
• Introduction of Simulation
into the CraneTraining Arena
• Crane Simulation was
introduced in the late 1980’s,
into the portal container
market.
• The simulators were housed in
air-conditioned containers
• They were fitted with a full-size
operator’s cab, and
• The processors required took
up the space of two
refrigerators.

7. VR Simulation
• Introduction of Simulation
into the CraneTraining Arena
• By the mid to late 1990’s stand
alone and desktop crane
simulation became available.
• In this time frame software too
extreme amounts of time to
develop
• Graphics were not that great,
• Hardware was not the best,
and
• EVERYTHINGWAS
EXPENSIVE

8. VR Simulation
• Introduction of Simulation into
the CraneTraining Arena
• With the new Millennium (2000)
came extraordinary
advancements in both graphics,
software and hardware
• More manufacturers surfaced.
• Some with and some without
motion base.
• Costs of these items dropped;
most could be purchased
between 50K to 100K.

9. VR Simulation
• Introduction of Simulation
into the CraneTraining Arena
• In 2016VR headsets became
both available and affordable
• However most Simulation
groups needed a push into
theVR Market.
• Today there are several very
goodVR Simulation Systems
available to augment crane
operator training.

10. VR Simulation
• How DoesVR Simulation
Better Aid in Crane Operator
Training?
• VR is Full Immersion into the
Operational Environment.
• 360o Visibility
• Front, Back, Left, Right,
Up and Down
• 3D Graphical Renderings
• Trainee may be exposed to
scenarios which would be
deadly in the field.

11. VR Simulation
• How DoesVR Simulation
Better Aid in Crane Operator
Training?
• LessWear andTear on
Expensive Equipment, as the
Trainee won’t Damage the
Simulated Environment from;
• Shock loading
• Side Loading
• Snapping the Load Line, or
• Contacting a Simulated
Powerline

12. VR Simulation
• Can Simulation be used to Certify
Crane Operators?
• Currently None of the Accredited
Crane Operator Certification
Programs Allow Certification
through Simulation.
• WillThis Occur InThe Future?
• WhatWould Need to Occur for this
to Happen?
• Would the Process Need to be
Approved by OSHA?
• NCCCO
• NCCER
• OECP
• CIC

13. VR Simulation
• What is the Future ofVR
Simulation and Other
Technologies?
• Most Crane Manufacturers Either
Already Have or areWorking on
Remote Control of their Large
Cranes.
• Who’s First?
• Liebherr
• Grove
• Terex
• Link-Belt
AWISE MAN ONCE STATEDTHE
FOLLOWING
SCIENCE FICTION
WILL SOON BECOME
SCIENCE FACT