Abstract
Virtual reality allows researchers to explore training scenarios that are not feasible or are potentially risky to recreate in the real world. The aim of this research was to examine whether using a tutorial session prior to using the mining simulator could adequately reduce the performance variability and increase the consistency of participant performance metrics. Eighteen participants were randomly assigned to a tutorial or a non-tutorial group. The tutorial group completed a five-minute tutorial that introduced them to the basics of the machine and virtual reality environment. All participants then completed five sessions in the simulator lasting five minutes each. Personality scores were recorded and participants answered questions to test their situational awareness after each session. Performance metrics such as number of collisions and perception response time were recorded by the simulator. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine at what point a significant difference in performance metrics was apparent across the five sessions. A mixed effects multilevel regression was done to evaluate the change in variability across time. There were no significant correlations between the personality questionnaire scores and the number of collisions or the perception response time. Both groups demonstrated high standard deviation scores for collisions and perception response time, but the tutorial group had decreasing variability across time. Both groups began to exhibit more consistent scores in the simulator after 10 min of use. Situational awareness questions require some refinement prior to further testing.
Highlights
The underground mining industry continues to be challenged by operators who have a very limited view of the tunnel around them [1]
Our main interest was in determining whether the five-minute tutorial session could effectively reduce the variability observed with learning to use the Situational Awareness Mining Simulator (SAMS)
Taking that value and comparing participants in this work who would have been disqualified based on the suggested performance metric cutoff (i.e., 8.2 collisions or 1.72 s perception response time), we find 4/8 overlap in both categories
Summary
The underground mining industry continues to be challenged by operators who have a very limited view of the tunnel around them [1]. Since most load-haul-dump (LHD) machines are designed with operators seated perpendicular to the direction of travel, they must use twisted and bent postures in an effort to obtain a line-of-sight (LOS) for safe operation of the machine [2]. Past research has found that a large percentage of accidents and fatalities involving LHD machines in the mining industry could be directly related to poor operator LOS. In an attempt to increase visibility and awareness for the operator, the industry has introduced systems broadly classified as proximity awareness technologies (PAT). A basic video system was deemed useful and suitable for improving
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