VRSS
The Brief: University Collaborative Competition with Virtual Reality Simulation Systems (VRSS)
Winner
'The challenge for this brief was to create a bespoke controller system to be used for the Police or Rail industries, The purpose of the controller was to be able to imitate real objects that would be used in practice that would then be rendered in VR corporate training simulations.
VRSS are a company based in Telford that provide simulation-based training simulations and activities to corporate clients. They currently rely on the HTV Vive for their VR based exercises, however this means that the user is not gaining the muscle memory needed to use equipment such as tasers, and does not have the same level of immersion that could be gained from handling a controller that better mimics the form of the real object.
My final solution to the brief was a universal movement tracking device that could be attached to a variety of shells in order to render the desired object in simulation, making it programmable for use across multiple sectors.
Project Completed: Autumn 2019
MOVEMENT TRACKING CONTROLLER
The final solution was a Universal Tracking Sensor Unit is a more compact and versatile solution to VR based training programmes. The controller has credit card sized dimensions; it is adaptive and fits in the palm of the hand. Equipped with an interaction button to prompt action when in close proximity with objects/situations in simulation, it can act as a standalone unit to track hand movement in simulation as well as being incorporated into its other shell attachments.
TASER SHELL ATTACHMENT
This is an additional product added as a derivation of the main movement tracking controller.
In the case of more complex objects needing trigger movements such as a Taser, the hardware can be mounted in the shell directly rather than through the Sensor Unit, making it a standalone product while still running through the hardware.
OTHER SHELL ATTACHMENTS: MODELS
In a similar way to the taser attachment, the Universal Sensor connects to any programmable shell via Micro USB; objects can be rendered into VR simulation based on client’s discipline/needs.The shells connect via Micro USB to transmit data to Sensor Unit in order to generate the shape in simulation. The shells are as close to replicas to the real objects as possible; muscle memory is developed through improved ergonomics and overall immersion.
The objects included in the package are what would be used on a standard police vest. However, for demonstration purposes, I modelled a camera phone and a train conductor's whistle in order to show the versatility of the tracking unit, and how it could be applied across various sectors.
FINAL PRESENTATION
Once selected as a finalist, I pitched the product package to the staff at VRSS at their Telford studio.
Once completed, they chose the product as the winner of the competition.
