Excavator simulator in VR: first hours in the cab without fuel, wear or a damaged machine
A standalone Meta Quest excavator training simulator: realistic cab, joystick control of boom, arm, bucket and slew, four training modules and a score for time, precision, collisions and procedure. New operators learn the controls and the safety routine in a headset, then move to the real machine with habits already formed. From €125 per station per month or €1,250 lifetime, net, excl. VAT. Remote delivery, onboarding in English.
In short
- What: a VR excavator simulator (hydraulic tracked excavator) delivered as an app on Meta Quest 3 / 3S; optional Windows scenario editor.
- Who for: construction and earthworks contractors, mines and quarries, operator training centres, vocational schools and technical colleges.
- Modules: operation and controls, digging and trench shaping, loading and attachments, safety and machine inspection; three ready site scenarios.
- Evidence: per-task score (time, precision, collisions, procedure compliance), group reports, pass thresholds you set.
- Price: €125 / month per station (Starter), €200 / month with the scenario editor (Pro), €1,250 lifetime per station; net, excl. VAT.
- Hardware: standalone Meta Quest 3S headsets + online licence — no on-site setup; remote onboarding and support in English.
Why an excavator simulator before the real machine
Teaching someone to run an excavator on a live site is expensive three times over: the machine burns fuel and hours while a beginner learns which joystick does what, an experienced operator stands beside the cab instead of working, and the first mistakes — swinging the bucket into a truck, undercutting a trench wall, skipping the walk-around — happen on real equipment next to real people.
A heavy equipment simulator takes those first hours off the site. The trainee sits in a virtual cab, works the same joystick pattern, digs to a set profile, loads a truck and runs the pre-start inspection. Every collision and skipped step is scored. The site keeps working and the supervisor sees a number, not an impression, before deciding who is ready for the seat.
The simulator does not replace the licence test or the final hours on the real excavator; it cuts the hours spent on basics and removes the most costly beginner errors.
Four modules of the VR excavator training simulator
From the first joystick movement to safe work in the trench. Short tasks, a score at the end, unlimited repetitions.
1. Operation and controls
Joystick work: boom, arm, bucket and slew. Coordinated, smooth movement that cannot be learned from a manual, without fuel or machine wear.
2. Digging and trench shaping
Excavating to a given profile, depth and slope angle, shaping embankments, working to the earthworks plan.
3. Loading and attachments
Loading spoil onto a truck and stockpiling, working with attachments, checking lifting capacity.
4. Safety and machine inspection
Pre-start inspection, stability assessment, working zone and surroundings, spotting hazards and avoiding collisions.
Operator station and scenarios
One station = one Meta Quest 3 / 3S headset, Touch Plus controllers as joysticks, a chair and about 2×2 m of floor. Three ready site scenarios with different terrain and soil; the Windows scenario editor (Pro) lets instructors build their own tasks.
Scoring and reports
Learning and exam modes. Time, precision, collisions and procedure compliance are scored against thresholds you set; the trainee sees the result at once, the instructor sees the group. CSV export.
Who on site gets what from the excavator simulator
- Site and plant managers: check readiness before an operator gets the seat; no machine taken out of work.
- Operators and apprentices: make every beginner mistake in VR, then move to the real cab with the joystick pattern in the hands.
- Health and safety: a record of whether the trainee does the walk-around and reads the working zone.
- HR and training: one onboarding programme across sites, automatic reports, the same pass thresholds everywhere.
- Schools and training centres: a practical lab without a training ground, machine hire or diesel.
VR vs real excavator on a training ground vs classroom
| Criterion | VR excavator simulator | Real excavator on a training ground | Classroom / e-learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per training hour | Licence only; no fuel, wear or machine hire | Machine hours, fuel, wear, ground, instructor | Low, but no cab time |
| Risk during learning | None — collisions and tip-overs stay virtual | Real risk to machine, ground crew and trainee | None, and no practice either |
| Repetitions | Unlimited, same task, own pace | Limited by machine and instructor availability, weather | Reading and quizzes only |
| Instructor time | Trainee works alone; instructor reviews scores | One instructor per trainee, full session | Group lecture, no individual feedback on controls |
| Reporting | Time, precision, collisions, procedure score per task; CSV | Instructor’s notes | Quiz results |
Use all three: classroom for regulations, VR for controls and repetitions, the real machine for the final hours and the test.
Excavator simulator pricing and return
| Option | Price (net, excl. VAT) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly per station — Starter | €125 / month | Full simulator, three site scenarios, four modules, scoring and reports. Licence bound to one headset. |
| Lifetime licence per station | €1,250 one-off | Same content, no subscription, updates included, works offline. 12 months helpdesk + updates included. Windows scenario editor add-on: €500. |
| Classroom pack / enterprise | Quote | Lower unit price above 10 stations, pre-configured headsets, tender specifications, instructor onboarding, LMS/HR integration, 1:1 model of your machine and site. |
Pro monthly plan (Starter + Windows scenario editor): €200 / month per station. Extended support to 24 months: €375 per headset. Return: a lifetime station costs less than a few days of a hired excavator with an instructor; client deployments report 2× faster onboarding and about 40% fewer operator errors (client data, on request).
Rollout: remote, in English, 2–7 days
- Demo call (30 min). We show the four modules online and send a quote for your number of stations.
- Order and licence. If you own Meta Quest headsets, the licence is activated online within 24 hours of payment. If not, we ship pre-configured Quest 3S headsets with the app installed.
- Onboarding call in English. Instructor session: headset handling, scenarios, pass thresholds, group reports, VR safety checklist.
- Pilot group. 5–10 operators or students complete the modules in one to two weeks; we review the scores with you.
- Scale or customise. Add stations, build tasks in the scenario editor, or commission a 1:1 model of your machine and site (2–4 weeks).
International customers: headsets are shipped pre-configured, the licence is activated online, support runs by e-mail and video call in English. The lifetime licence works offline; nothing is installed on your network.
Machine simulators we have delivered
The excavator simulator shares its physics and scoring method with our crane, drilling-rig and industrial-hall simulators.
Underground working conditions in VR
Challenge: Prepare staff for real underground working conditions without sending them below ground and without risk.
Solution: VR training reproducing the workings, machines and safety procedures; delivered in stages 2024–2025.
Result: Results are held by the client and available on request.
Overhead-crane operator simulator
Challenge: Operators had to master load handling before touching the real crane.
Solution: A VR simulator with lifting and moving loads, adjustable difficulty levels and instant feedback on every manoeuvre.
Result: Results are held by the client and available on request.
Production hall and warehouse in VR
Challenge: Train staff on the finished-goods warehouse and large-casting production without taking equipment out of production.
Solution: A model of the Krakodlew hall: tool and hoist control, production and warehouse sequences in VR/AR.
Result: Results are held by the client and available on request.
Your rollout could be next
30-minute online demo, a quote for your number of stations and a pilot plan.
When NOT to use an excavator simulator
- To replace the licence test or the last hours on the real machine. The certifying body still tests in a real cab.
- If you need motion feedback or a specific OEM cab. The standard version is a seated headset station with a generic hydraulic excavator; a motion platform or a 1:1 copy of your model is a custom project.
- For machines the app does not cover. Wheel loaders, dozers or graders need a separate build.
Excavator simulator FAQ
Does the simulator certify operators?
No. Operator licences are issued by your national authority or accredited body after a test on a real machine. The exam mode uses your pass thresholds and produces a score sheet for internal records.
What hardware is needed?
Meta Quest 3 or 3S, standalone, a chair and about 2×2 m of floor. The scenario editor runs on a Windows PC. No motion platform, no cables, no IT integration.
Can the instructor see what the trainee is doing?
Yes. The headset casts the trainee’s view to a screen or tablet on the same Wi-Fi, and the group report shows every score. There is no networked multiplayer mode; stations are independent.
How many people can use one station?
Unlimited users; the licence is tied to the headset. Run as many trainees as you have headsets at the same time.
Is the interface in English?
Yes. English and Polish are included; other languages are added on request and quoted per language.
Can I export results?
Yes. Scores (time, precision, collisions, procedure compliance) export to CSV. LMS or HR integration is available in enterprise deployments.
Are updates included?
Yes. 12 months of helpdesk and updates are included; 24 months costs €375 per headset. The lifetime licence keeps working offline.
Can I try it before buying?
Yes. A 30-minute online demo, and a trial licence on your own Meta Quest headset on request.
Can I build my own tasks?
Yes, with the Windows scenario editor (Pro plan or €500 add-on to the lifetime licence): site, terrain, soil, tasks and thresholds. A 1:1 copy of your machine and site is an enterprise project.
See the excavator simulator in a 30-minute online demo
Leave your details; we will run the four modules live, quote your number of stations and propose a pilot. Reply within one working day.
Prices are indicative net figures as of September 2026 and do not constitute an offer. EpicVR S.A., Kraków, Poland.
