Sweeper operator trainees are scored against a trainer-created or pre-existing template which is considered the ‘ideal’ performance model. If a trainee hits a major obstacle during a training simulator session, the test immediately stops, and a FAIL notice requiring the trainee to restart their session from the beginning appears. After all, it is better for a driver to damage a virtual sweeper, than a sweeper truck costing $90,000 to replace. At the end of each training session, the path taken is fully reviewed and compared to the template, with scoring emphasis on minimizing right hand turns, proper speed, minimal overall turns, hand picking items, percent of debris collected verses missed, and time to complete.

SweeperSIM features a panoramic view from the driver’s seat. An overhead diagram of the parking lot and property is also displayed along with live visual recording of the session statistics.

The experience is enhanced with realistic sounds paired with interactions in the simulator environment such as the sound of broken glass and other debris being sucked up into the hopper and even the sound of the broom when it is engaged.

The simulator operator has controls that mimic a typical sweeping truck. The operator can also control the speed of the truck and stop it if, for example, they need to “exit” and move an obstacle such as a shopping cart or “pick up” debris that can’t be picked up by a sweeper (this is done with a mouse click on the screen). Clicking also simulates hand picking, which is part of the work required on the simulated property.

As the operator “sweeps” the parking lot, SweeperSIM tracks the driver’s performance. It monitors time on the parking lot, turns, right-hand turns and the percentage of debris picked up. The simulated debris field has been carefully constructed with input from experts in the sweeping business to test even the most experienced drivers as they hone their skills and qualify new drivers.

The more debris you collect, the shorter your time on the route, the fewer turns and fewer right-hand turns you make; the higher the score. in the event of a collision with a wall, sign, speed bump, curb or parked car – the simulator session ends and is scored accordingly.

SweeperSIM will help qualify new prospective employees and clearly demonstrate the responsibility requirements of the job, serving as a screening process. Qualified prospects will be trained to section off areas, to finish an area before moving on, and even make them aware of areas that require hand picking. It will also teach and reinforce proper parking lot best practice sweeping habits, such as approaching a speed bump squarely, rather than at an angle and minimizing gutter broom usage when sweeping wide open areas.

Once a participant has completed sweeping the parking lot, the system will tally their points and mistakes and generate a score based on weighted parameters set by the instructor. This final tally not only tells owners if a prospect is ready to operate their equipment and do the job, it lets the prospect know where they stand and how well they did – before they ever gets behind the wheel of expensive equipment or expose their company to real world liability or damages.

SweeperSIM is designed to help trainees develop the mental discipline to work efficiently in the middle of the night with the field of view provided by headlights. It takes practice to get used to sweeping a parking lot looking through headlights, so this gives new driver trainees a good idea of what the job will looks like at night.

You can also design SweeperSIM contests for current employees, posting best scores for other operators to beat, encouraging operators to improve their skills by challenging their co-workers.