Developing VR for Defense Training and More

In a new regular format, we pose five questions to leaders in the MS&T community. Here, Marty Kauchak, Halldale Media Group Editor speaks to David Moreno who is the Head of Marketing & Business Development at Virtualware, a company that provides advanced immersive enterprise solutions and support for training and engineering.

MS&T:Thanks for taking time to meet with us. Where will MS&T readers find Virtualware products used by military training audiences?
David Moreno (DM): Recently we have been awarded a contract from The Cooperation in Scientific Research and Development related to the Strategic Technologies Programme (COINCIDENTE) to support the Spanish Ministry of Defense (MoD) medical training in NRBQ (CRBN) protocol. The aim of this contract is to develop a warehouse scale, multi-user virtual reality (VR) simulator deployed in our solution VIROO (Virtualware Immersive Room), and provide full immersive, realistic and intuitive training sessions to the medical staff at the Spanish Military Health School (EMISAN). VIROO will enable the Spanish MoD to reduce cost, risk and time in their learning and training processes. This is the first of the next generation of simulators that will be part of a wider training program for the Spanish Health Forces. During the last 16 years we have been focused on accelerating the adoption of VR and spreading its potential for innovation. The Spanish MoD is just another example of how this technology, and VIROO in particular, can boost innovation and learning as well as improve efficiency. We have a great opportunity to revolutionize a whole industry!

MS&T: Of interest to the broader Halldale editorial program, update us on where your products and services are supporting training audiences in adjacent high-risk industries.
DM: In 2019, along with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) we introduced a revolutionary concept for workforce training based on Virtual Reality Immersive Rooms. GEH provides the OEM expertise, the training content, and the process know-how. Virtualware provides the award-winning Enterprise VR Solution VIROO, along with training simulators, in different locations around the world. The main pillar of this new approach is to create more value for nuclear customers and disrupt the sector with new nuclear training. Nuclear training suppliers normally are limited to traditional OEM companies and a small number of enterprises with nuclear pedigree. This is a consequence of strong regulatory controls that makes nuclear training more exclusive and expensive. This project aims to solve the problems which are contributing to increased nuclear training costs. The first simulator developed for fuel movement operations replicates a complex process and highly skilled activity, that requires top-level expertise and training, as well as outstanding coordination between the different parties involved during this process. That means multiple users collaborating in a 1:1 scale VR nuclear environment. Moreover, the simulator replicates the process with tactile and haptic feedback. A physical replica of the refuelling mast is connected directly to the virtual environment, so users are able to carry out fuel movement operations as if they were doing so in reality.

MS&T: After recently attending 2020 vIITSEC, provide your observations on some of the emerging and evolving requirements the military has for software, AR/VR and XR and other training enablers that Virtualware provides - and how these requirements compare and contrast to high-risk industry training enterprises.
DM: Workforce training continues to be a key area to help achieve some of the main targeted goals for the military and other high-risk industries: implement the most significant savings opportunities in the most efficient manner possible. The demand of more realistic and innovative ways for training is increasing. Safety and knowledge retention are becoming even more important elements in today’s social and economic environment. For instance, the possibility to train several units based in different locations – but, in the same large-scale virtual environment. This improves the individual, team and unit-level performance in real situations, and also reduces the investment in physical replicas and even the expenses of bringing the units together to one location for training. These are the kinds of use cases we are addressing with VIROO.

MS&T: How do you see the virtual training sector evolving in the next 12-24 months for the military and other high-risk organizations.
DM: Virtual reality is definitely establishing itself as the standard for training across industries. The Spanish MoD or GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy are leading the way, and we expect to see more companies and institutions joining the “VR is Now” movement by implementing virtual training on a day-to-day basis.

MS&T: Finally, what can the community expect from Virtualware in 2021 and into early 2022, in terms of new products and services for high-risk training audiences, partnerships and other developments?
DM: We truly believe in the potential of virtual reality to change the world so we will continue pushing the boundaries to accelerate the adoption of this technology by placing VIROO as the standard in the MS&T industry. The world needs a quantitative technology leap forward to further innovate. Yet, VIROO is already solving a multitude of challenges that concern us today, making VR technology accessible and easy to use, and helping organizations and institutions boost their capacity for innovation in their training, engineering and product development processes. Along with Unity Technologies, and with the support of The National Center for Simulation (NCS) and the European Training and Simulation Association (ETSA), we expect to accomplish this mission. And it was a pleasure to accept this invitation!