Container Crane Training Simulator Developed

Container crane training simulator is the high-tech production, integrating virtual reality technology, computer simulation technology and mechanical design technology. There is no any successful experience to use for reference in home. After analyzing research and application in this domain in foreign countries, and through self-thinking, practice and creativity, project group of SMU developed two type of container crane training simulator to meet our teaching: one is hardware-in-the-loop training simulator of container crane, the other is digital training simulator of container crane. Its successful develop make us the trailbreaker in this domain in our country, adapting ourselves to the port teaching.The main work of this paper includes the following:1. This paper combines crane training simulator with computer simulation and mechanical design, and introduces the structure and theory of hardware-in-the-loop training simulator and digital training simulator of container crane, basing on analyzing the structure and function of general training simulator. Its system structure and function not only meet the need of teaching, but also have self-creativity in many ways, making a good example for our country's developing in crane training simulator.2. According to the theory of three-dimensional vision building, with the reference to Shanghai Waigaoqiao Terminal, and after analyzing container crane structure and function, this paper uses three-dimensional vision modeling software Multigen, OpenGVS to construct 3-D graphic models of the port, various types of container cranes, containerships, related equipment and otheron-the-spot objects (such as yards, containers, container trucks, houses, etc).3. On the base of analyzing trolley's moving process, this paper gives the moving model of "trolley-weight". The practical program can realize interactive control.4. Collision model is the key part of this simulator system. By building three-dimensional coordinate system, setting collision detecting lines, this paper commendably solves the three-dimensional collision problem during spreader moving, including spreader moving state after collision and spreader landed judgement.5. Communication is the keystone and difficulty of this paper. As hardware-in-the-loop training simulator has PLC, this paper use Cimplicity HIM software to realize communication between PLC and computer. This software is developed by GE Fanuc and bases on Microsoft Windows NT / Windows 95. For communication between computer and computer, communication between different applications, we use Winsock control, Socket, DDE, and share-memory technology to realize them respectively.