At the mines of the Polar Branch of Norilsk Nickel, employees are trained using virtual reality technology.
"We are working on creating a unique comprehensive educational solution that will consist of theory in the form of a training course with gamification elements on the platform of the Norilsk Nickel Academy electronic resource and virtual, absolutely safe practice using VR simulators that provide full immersion in the production process and provide an opportunity to try yourself as a colleague, dispatcher or the driver," said Alexandra Kononova, a leading specialist of the Project Office for the reorganization of the production management system.
Training programs are developed for all employees whose work is associated with an automated mining management system: specialists of planning centers, machinists of the main types of underground equipment, dispatchers, site managers and mining foremen.
In VR simulators, nine scenarios are implemented that simulate the work of machinists and dispatchers during a shift with the development of emergency situations and analysis of step-by-step passing of equipment maintenance every shift.
The realism of their performance is breathtaking. The situation in the mine is reproduced in the smallest detail: from the sound of water droplets to dust particles at the work site.
Currently, ten hardware and software complexes have been purchased, which include monitors, system units and VR helmets. They are installed at five mines: "Rocky", "Komsomolsky", "Oktyabrsky", "Mayak" and "Taimyrsky".
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
