A one-handed joystick for excavators allows an operator to make all necessary motions with a single hand and arm for manipulating an excavator tool. The one-handed joystick includes a rotatable cylinder bar, a rotatable ring and an industrial joystick base. The rotatable cylinder bar is grasped with a hand. The industrial base is moved front to back, or right to left. The following are preferable hand/arm motions. A downward hand curl is associated with a bucket digging motion; an upward hand curl is associated with a bucket dump; a forearm forward push is associated with a boom/stick extension; a forearm reward pull is associated with a boom/stick retraction; a left-hand movement is associated with swinging the excavator left; a right-hand movement is associated with swinging the excavator right; a clockwise hand twist is associated with a stick/boom extension; and a counter clockwise hand twist is associated with a stick/boom retraction.

A one-handed joystick for excavators allows an operator to make all necessary motions with a single hand and arm for manipulating an excavator tool. The one-handed joystick includes a rotatable cylinder bar, a rotatable ring and an industrial joystick base. The rotatable cylinder bar is grasped with a hand. The industrial base is moved front to back, or right to left. The following are preferable hand/arm motions. A downward hand curl is associated with a bucket digging motion; an upward hand curl is associated with a bucket dump; a forearm forward push is associated with a boom/stick extension; a forearm reward pull is associated with a boom/stick retraction; a left-hand movement is associated with swinging the excavator left; a right-hand movement is associated with swinging the excavator right; a clockwise hand twist is associated with a stick/boom extension; and a counter clockwise hand twist is associated with a stick/boom retraction.

An adaptive joystick preferably includes a rotatable cylinder bar, an outer base ring, an inner ring and an industrial joystick base. An adaptive controller receives an output from the adaptive joystick and outputs a control signal to a valve solenoid to control a hydraulic cylinder. Angle, depth and pressure sensors are preferably used to monitor a position of the hydraulic cylinder. The sensor outputs are fed into the adaptive controller. An inward wrist curl of the rotatable cylinder bar combined with a forearm pull rearward of the outer base ring are used to cause a digging motion. An outward wrist curl of the rotatable cylinder bar combined with a forearm push forward of the outer base ring are used to cause a dumping motion. A hand movement to the left is associated with swinging the excavator left. A hand movement to the right is associated to swinging the excavator right.

A skill-based training system includes a processing system having a processor, memory coupled to the processor with executable instructions stored therein, and an input-output controller coupled to the processor and to input and output devices. The memory includes lesson plans that outline skill-based tasks and activities, and predetermined performance criteria. The processor is configured by the instructions to present interfaces on the output devices simulating a virtual training environment. The processor is configured to receive input signals representative of performing the tasks and activities in the virtual environment, and to evaluate the performance by comparing the performed tasks and activities to the criteria, to determine a score and to present the score on the output devices. The system includes work orders categorized by the lesson plans and defining within an increasing progression of a degree of skill, knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving needed to complete the tasks and activities.

An adaptive joystick preferably includes a rotatable cylinder bar, an outer base ring, an inner ring and an industrial joystick base. An adaptive controller receives an output from the adaptive joystick and outputs a control signal to a valve solenoid to control a hydraulic cylinder. Angle, depth and pressure sensors are preferably used to monitor a position of the hydraulic cylinder. The sensor outputs are fed into the adaptive controller. An inward wrist curl of the rotatable cylinder bar combined with a forearm pull rearward of the outer base ring are used to cause a digging motion. An outward wrist curl of the rotatable cylinder bar combined with a forearm push forward of the outer base ring are used to cause a dumping motion. A hand movement to the left is associated with swinging the excavator left. A hand movement to the right is associated to swinging the excavator right.

A skill-based training system includes a processing system having a processor, memory coupled to the processor with executable instructions stored therein, and an input-output controller coupled to the processor and to input and output devices. The memory includes lesson plans that outline skill-based tasks and activities, and predetermined performance criteria. The processor is configured by the instructions to present interfaces on the output devices simulating a virtual training environment. The processor is configured to receive input signals representative of performing the tasks and activities in the virtual environment, and to evaluate the performance by comparing the performed tasks and activities to the criteria, to determine a score and to present the score on the output devices. The system includes work orders categorized by the lesson plans and defining within an increasing progression of a degree of skill, knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving needed to complete the tasks and activities.

A skill-based training system includes a processing system having a processor, memory coupled to the processor with executable instructions stored therein, and an input-output controller coupled to the processor and to input and output devices. The memory includes lesson plans that outline skill-based tasks and activities, and predetermined performance criteria. The processor is configured by the instructions to present interfaces on the output devices simulating a virtual training environment. The processor is configured to receive input signals representative of performing the tasks and activities in the virtual environment, and to evaluate the performance by comparing the performed tasks and activities to the criteria, to determine a score and to present the score on the output devices. The system includes work orders categorized by the lesson plans and defining within an increasing progression of a degree of skill, knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving needed to complete the tasks and activities.

Methods and systems 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 that is configured to receive an operating command from the operator, generate a simulated working environment and a simulated wheel loader having a simulated bucket, and generate an indicator providing depth-related information to an operator relating to a position of at least a portion of the simulated wheel loader with respect to a point-of-reference within the simulated working environment. The training simulator application is further configured to output the simulated working environment and the indicator for display to the operator, and automatically modify the indicator based on a position of the simulated wheel loader with respect to the point-of-reference.

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.

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.