Overview
Virtual Reality Wiring Training (2012-443)
Project Team:
- Bollinger Shipyards
- Tiburon Associates, Inc.
- D'Angelo Technologies
- WorldViz
January 2012-October 2012
NSRP ASE Investment: $100K
Objective:
Wiring systems are typically treated as a fit and forget commodity until failure occurs. There is no current training manual tailored for proper shipboard wiring techniques in
shipbuilding for new installation, preventative maintenance, and unscheduled maintenance. There is also no formalized inspection training to verify optimal wire
installation and maintenance procedures. The challenge presented to the shipbuilding community is to integrate training and installation directly with ship design metrics in
order to continuously improve installation, streamline operations and reduce wiring systems mishaps. Developing an interactive and integrated Virtual Reality (VR) training
module, refresher capabilities, and inspection reference will provide the shipbuilding community with excellent resources for efficient and effective training and skilled
maintainers. At a recent congressional hearing, statistics were presented that included a near tripling of inspection failures on Navy Ships. An astounding 1 in 5 Navy ships
inspected receives an unsatisfactory or unfit for combat rating. Although not all of these ships fail due to wiring issues, the number of improper installations or faulty inspections
is a significant safety and cost concern. Providing the shipbuilding industry with training modules that incorporate Virtual Reality (VR) techniques to engage users and trainees in a “hands on” real world setting is critical for continued improvement. The incorporation of training modules will provide users with the capability to train on a virtual ship and visualize proper installation methods and procedures; a complementary training incentive used in conjunction with hands-on and on the job training (OJT). By developing training modules through the National
Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP), which incorporate VR techniques to engage users and trainees in a “hands on” real world setting, users will be able to train on a
virtual ship and visualize proper installation. Bollinger is providing mentorship, support, and guidance to D’Angelo Technologies, LLC and Tiburon Associates, Inc. in the development of an optimized training module through the use of VR for wire installation and maintenance in the shipbuilding industry.Automating the inspection process of fiber optic connections removes human subjectivity and ensures that a strong level of process control can be implemented and maintained over time. The overall goal of this project was to reduce excessive re-work/replacement of fiber optic connectors during ship construction caused by poor end-face quality and contamination due to inadequate inspection and cleaning procedures.
This effort integrated a MIL-STD-2042B compatible end-face inspection profile with an automated fiber optic connector quality assessment device that provides a “Go/No-Go” result for shipyard and fleet technicians. Successful field tests resulted in the Navy’s approval to use the augmented process for shipboard fiber optic inspections.
Key Deliverables:
Request Final Report from NSRP – Limited Distribution authorized to U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry and NSRP ASE Program representatives