Russia Trains Drill Rig Operators with Virtual Reality
A factory in Orenburg has developed a VR-based training program that lets mining equipment operators practice on digital rigs before touching costly real machines.
At the Orenburg Drilling Equipment Plant, rigs are custom-built for mining companies with highly specific requirements. To ensure operators can learn safely and efficiently, the company created a training program using VR headsets. Once inside, trainees see a remote worksite, stand on a grated platform, and hear the hum of a drilling rig. In front of them: control levers, an interactive display, and even a virtual assistant driller.
The program adapts to each user and simulates key tasks—from starting the rig and initiating drilling to adjusting angles and other parameters. According to Petr Medvedev, head of the plant’s service department, the idea came directly from customer demand. With rigs costing millions of rubles (tens of thousands of dollars) and mistakes leading to costly downtime, companies need operators who are fully prepared.
Training every worker on live equipment is time-consuming and expensive, so the plant’s software developers designed their own VR solution. Clients can purchase the program along with the rig or travel to the plant for training, where they can also consult directly with its creators.
The innovation promises to boost productivity across the mining sector by combining immersive training with industrial know-how.
