Mining Safety Games-Up with Gaming Simulation
Gamification and design company, SpaceSalad Studios has developed a new mining safety training simulator designed to help mines reduce accidents, improve readiness, and train operators more cost-effectively. Built for PAISA Technology, specialists in AI-powered safety and autonomous systems for mining, the solution provides a realistic digital environment that allows trainees to practise operating large mining vehicles and safety systems without risk to people, machinery, or infrastructure.
“Companies are trying to modernise and adapt to new technology. Sometimes it is too expensive to build the hardware first, so PAISA Technology asked us to create a simulation of the idea. It helps them show the potential market and raise funds,” says Thabo Tsolo CEO and Game Designer at SpaceSalad Studios.
Key Safety Risks Adresssed
At a high level, the simulator focuses on one of the mining industry’s most persistent risks: visibility and spatial awareness around extremely large vehicles. Drivers often cannot see pedestrians or smaller machinery near them. The simulated vehicle includes advanced sensors that automatically stop the truck when an obstacle or a person is detected. The system consists of a voice alert that identifies the obstacle and provides a countdown before movement resumes. It anticipates the accident before it happens.
The simulator was built in Unity; the same game engine SpaceSalad Studios uses to develop its own titles. Some of the physics systems are adapted from the studio’s internal projects, including its Doba Dash-related racing work. The team paired the simulation software with an off-the-shelf driving rig to enhance the experience’s physical realism. SpaceSalad Studios is supported by Aions Ventures, which mentors the studio as an investor partner, providing strategic guidance as it expands its commercial and industrial simulation capabilities.
Scope of Benefits Beyond Safety
The benefits extend beyond safety. Mines traditionally rely on in-person practical training, which requires travel, fuel, equipment, time, and instructor costs. With a digital simulator, trainees can learn core driving and safety principles in hours rather than days and repeat exercises without risk.
“This allows for more people to be trained simultaneously, and others can do the training virtually if needed. Mistakes do not hurt anyone, so you can keep practising until you get it right,” says Tsolo.
Although the current simulator focuses on above-ground vehicle safety, SpaceSalad Studios sees potential for more complex training modules. The team has already explored ideas for underground drilling, tunnel integrity, and gas detection scenarios. These include teaching operators where and how to drill safely, how to identify unstable ground, and how to recognise hazardous gas pockets before they become life-threatening.
While PAISA owns the intellectual property for this specific build, SpaceSalad Studios plans to expand its role in industrial simulation. The team aims to develop templates that can be licensed or customised for other mines, energy operators, or heavy industry environments.
“In time, we want to build templates that help companies create their own simulations. It is the same idea behind the tools we build for kids to make their own games. The aim is to make training more accessible for everyone.”
