Simulator system and method

A system for simulating an equipment, comprising:

• an input device intended to be operated by an operator;
• a display;
• and
• a simulator arrangement, configured to:
• read a signal representing an operation of the input device;
• simulate said equipment using said input signal and pre-stored equipment characteristics, resulting in a visual representation of the equipment;
• and
• present said visual representation on said display,
• wherein said simulator arrangement comprises:
• an equipment controller, operatively connected to an environment simulator, providing said visual representation of the equipment, said environment simulator being operatively connected to an object database comprising equipment objects,
• wherein said equipment controller is functionally identical to a real-life equipment controller suitable for controlling the equipment, the equipment controller being separate from the real-life equipment controller, the equipment controller comprising equipment control software which is a copy of software used in the real-life equipment controller.

A method for simulating an equipment, comprising the steps of:

• reading a signal representing an operation of the input device;
• simulating said equipment using said input signal and pre-stored equipment characteristics, resulting in a visual representation of the equipment;
• and
• presenting said visual representation on a display,
• wherein said simulating step further comprises:
• providing a control signal suitable for controlling the equipment in an equipment controller;
• and
• providing said visual representation of the equipment in an environment simulator, said environment simulator being operatively connected to an object database comprising equipment objects,
• wherein said step of providing, in the equipment controller, of a control signal suitable for controlling the equipment is functionally identical to an equipment controlling procedure suitable for controlling the equipment, the equipment controller being separate from the real-life equipment controller, the equipment controller comprising equipment control software which is a copy of software used in the real-life equipment controller.