Depth-related help functions for a shovel training simulator

Abstract

Systems and methods for training an operator. One system includes a computing device including a processing unit and computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium stores a training simulator application. The training simulator application, when executed by the processing unit, is configured to (i) receive an operating command from the operator, (ii) generate a simulated working environment and a simulated shovel having a simulated dipper, the simulated shovel and the simulated dipper positioned within the simulated working environment based on the operating command, (iii) generate an indicator providing depth-related information to an operator relating to a position of the simulated dipper with respect to a point-of-reference within the simulated working environment, and (iv) output the simulated working environment and the indicator to at least one output device for display to the operator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for training an operator of a shovel, the method comprising:
 generating, with a processor, a simulated shovel having a simulated dipper within a simulated training environment;   generating a simulated haul truck within the simulated training environment;   determining a centerline of a bed of the simulated haul truck;   determining a current position of the simulated dipper;   determining a current position of the centerline;   determining a distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline; and   modifying an indicator displayed within the simulated training environment when the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline is less than a threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a swing path of the simulated dipper based on the current position of the simulated dipper. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising displaying a graphical representation of the swing path of the simulated dipper within the simulated training environment and wherein modifying the indicator includes modifying at least a portion of the graphical representation of the swing path of the simulated dipper. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline includes determining the distance based on the swing path of the simulated dipper. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a graphical representation of the centerline on the simulated haul truck within the simulated training environment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein modifying the indicator includes modifying at least a portion of the graphical representation of the centerline. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the indicator includes modifying at least one selected from a group consisting of a color, a size, a shape, a pattern, and an animation of the indicator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying at least a portion of the simulated shovel when the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline is less than the threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein modifying at least the portion of the simulated shovel includes modifying a first color of the portion of the simulated dipper to match a second color of the indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, when the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline is less than the threshold, providing at least one selected from a group consisting of a text-based message displayed within the simulated training environment, audible feedback, and tactile feedback. 
     
     
         11 . A system for training an operator, the system comprising:
 a computing device including a processor and computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium storing a training simulator application,   wherein the processor is configured, through execution of the training simulator application, to
 receive an operating command from the operator, 
 generate a simulated training environment including a simulated haul truck and a simulated shovel having a simulated dipper, the simulated shovel and the simulated dipper positioned within the simulated training environment based on the operating command, 
 determine a centerline of a bed of the simulated haul truck, 
 determine a current position of the simulated dipper, 
 determine a current position of the centerline, 
 determine a distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline, and 
 modify at least one characteristic of an indicator displayed within the simulated training environment when the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline is less than a threshold. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a swing path of the simulated dipper based on the current position of the simulated dipper. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to display a graphical representation of the swing path of the simulated dipper within the simulated training environment, and wherein the processor is configured to modify the at least one characteristic of the indicator by modifying at least a portion of the graphical representation of the swing path of the simulated dipper. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline based on the swing path of the simulated dipper. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to display a graphical representation of the centerline on the simulated haul truck within the simulated training environment, and wherein the processor is configured to modify the at least one characteristic of the indicator by modifying at least a portion of the graphical representation of the centerline. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to modify the at least one characteristic of the indicator by modifying at least one selected from a group consisting of a color, a size, a shape, a pattern, and an animation of the indicator. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify at least a portion of the simulated shovel when the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline is less than the threshold. 
     
     
         18 . Non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a set of functions, the set of functions comprising:
 generating a simulated shovel having a simulated dipper within a simulated training environment;   generating a simulated haul truck within the simulated training environment;   determining a centerline of a bed of the simulated haul truck;   determining a current position of the simulated dipper;   determining a current position of the centerline;   determining a distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline; and   modifying an indicator displayed within the simulated training environment when the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline is less than a threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the set of functions further comprises determining a swing path of the simulated dipper based on the current position of the simulated dipper. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein determining the distance between the current position of the simulated dipper and the current position of the centerline includes determining the distance based on the swing path of the simulated dipper.