GLOBAL TECH GROUP CHOOSES PANASONIC

TABLETS FOR USE IN MINING INDUSTRY

PANASONIC RUGGED TOUGHPADS SUPPORT INTELLIGENT DRIVER
TRAINING IN THE HARSH CONDITIONS OF AUSTRALIA’S MINING INDUSTRY
Panasonic rugged Toughpad tablets are driving an intelligent solution developed by Australian company Global Tech Group™ that overcomes the challenges of
safely and effectively training single-seat heavy vehicle operators in today’s mining industry.

www.toughbook.com.au
“The Toughpad is up to the task. It’s ruggedised and well-suited for
use in the mining industry.”
Richard Vorias, Managing Director of Global Tech • Operates to 500m line of sight/250m non line of sight away.”
Group™ explained that there were a number of key • Optional: Integrated Whole Body Vibration (WBV) “Once a system is installed, there’s minimal
considerations in developing and patenting the Portable analysis and assessment system. maintenance, and customers can spend much more
Vehicle Training System (PVTS™). time training in live environments. It’s also possible for
Specifically tailored to the needs of the industry, this
First and foremost, when training mining personnel rugged solution can withstand the environmental a single trainer to direct a number of vehicles,” Richard
on extremely large single-seat vehicles such as challenges of training heavy vehicle operators in remote Vorias added.
dozers, graders and excavators, it’s not possible for locations, and improve the delivery and effectiveness of Global Tech Group™ has now successfully sold the
the trainer to be next to the operator. This means that training on a live mine site. PVTS™ to customers in the mining industry and has
operators generally follow up their in-class training received great feedback on its ease of use and the
by driving the vehicle under the instruction of an Richard Vorias said: “The Toughpad is up to the task.
It’s ruggedised and well-suited for use in the mining real productivity improvements made through the new
experienced instructor who trains them over the mining training process.
radio network and views them from a safe distance. industry - with IP ratings, an all-weather vibration,
This method lacks privacy, which can lessen its drop, dust and water-resistant design, a rugged About Global Tech Group
effectiveness, and instructors have no way of viewing keyboard and anti-glare screen, and fits into a compact
case for carrying.” Global Tech Group™ Pty Ltd is a Brisbane, Queensland
the trainee’s actions in the cabin.
based company, specialising in the development and
Global Tech Group™ has developed and is marketing a The PVTS™ is light enough for one person to carry up implementation of new markets with leading-edge
solution that provides remote, private and live training the steep stairs of a heavy vehicle using the hands- technologies and partners. Global Tech Group™ is
with instantaneous feedback and guidance, and is free strap. It can be swapped between vehicles during launching their products in the aviation, mining and
designed with robust technology to withstand the drivers’ 15-minute ‘crib’ breaks and be up and running construction industries. Their products are set to
rigours of mine site environments. The PVTS™ has now for the next training session, minimising any production transform and digitise the operational day to day
been implemented by customers within the industry. delays. activities of management, compliance and training,
The company went through some trial and error when The four cameras are mounted in and outside the cab with the aim to maximise operational productivity.
initially developing the solution. The first remote of the trainee’s vehicle, while the instructor views the
system tested on a mining site was a ‘suitcase’ that steering and other operations on the Toughpad screen Contact details:
included a TV monitor. It soon became evident that the and communicates via the headset. The cameras can Phone: 073374038,
system was too heavy and large to be used in a vehicle also capture stills and video for later use in a classroom
situation to demonstrate best practice or for review to Email: [email protected]
cab and with too short a range to be versatile enough
for training, as well as offering little resilience to dust improve performance. Website www.globaltechgroup.com.au,
and glare. The solution is unobtrusive for the driver, and the
cameras and the screen provide visual clarity between
About Panasonic Toughbook
Global Tech Group™ went back to the drawing board,
and building on this experience, developed a compact, driver and instructor in all weathers, day and night. The Panasonic Toughbooks are used extensively worldwide
mobile and rugged solution with one-to-one Wi-Fi direct visual feedback from the cabin makes it easier by mobile professionals, field workers, the military,
communication, which they tested in the field with for the instructor to guide the operator and impart best utilities, heavy industry, emergency services and
certified instructors on a range of live mine sites. This practice in safe, efficient machine operations including organisations where durable mobile computing is
included tablets that were capable of withstanding the posture, steering and blade techniques. critical to maximising productivity and uptime.
environmental extremes of blistering summer heat all One-to-one training between driver and instructor Contact details:
the way through to driving rain, constant exposure to is more focused, with private, wi-fi connectivity Phone: 1300 859 049
dust, and relentless vibration and shock. that’s independent of the mining radio network, but
still allows them to stay aware of the situational Email: [email protected]
The key elements of the PVTS™ solution include:
environment during sessions. Website: www.toughbook.com.au
• The FZ-G1 Panasonic Toughpad - an ultra thin and
lightweight fully rugged tablet device, used in The Toughpad can be detached from the main unit and
conjunction with a specifically designed clip on used up to 40 meters away, which gives the trainer
keyboard. greater flexibility in moving around a site to follow a
vehicle.
• 4 individual cameras that capture high-definition
video images “The rugged headset fits under a safety helmet, and
the Toughpad is easy for a trainer to hold in their hand
• PVTS™ application and use wi-fi to communicate with a driver from a safe
• A rugged headset distance without dropouts even when they are standing
• A Pelican-style rugged case on the shoulder of a pit and the vehicle is 500 meters