Operator Model for Construction Equipment

This paper presents the initial results of a virtual operator model designed for wheel loader that can test digital mockups of construction machines before they are built, thus eliminating significant costs and time of building prototypes. The operator model controls virtual wheel loader to simulate evaluation tests and the normal tasks for truck loading cycle. It consists of an event based finite state machine strategy model which selects different subtasks depending on the wheel loader current situation/condition. The operator model generates the human commands to the wheel loader controls lift, tilt, throttle, steering, gears and brakes. It receives feedback with the current condition of the wheel loader from the virtual wheel loader. Depending on the human commands and the wheel loader response, the wheel loader performance can be determined.