Immersive technologies benefit aerospace

Extended reality (XR) is no longer science fiction. It’s now being used as a revolutionary training method. These advanced training tactics are poised to alleviate aerospace industry burdens, including traditional training procedure constraints, ongoing technical skills gaps, and costly efficiency and continuity challenges. Virtual immersive technologies are also enhancing aircraft maintenance and mission readiness, reducing costs, and creating safe, innovative, and collaborative training environments. Technicians’ and mechanics’ skills are being sharpened as never before, unlocking a deeper understanding of complex systems.

What is XR tech?

The building blocks of XR encompass virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), creating immersive experiences for aerospace training, planning, and maintenance, thereby boosting the efficiency of critical operations.

For example, aircraft maintenance crews can train in virtual environments, working firsthand with the same aircraft and equipment they’ll see on the job. They can interact with every bolt, wire, and panel, replicating a real hangar environment. They can conduct collaborative training, engaging as a team on the same project. This immersion leads to a deeper understanding of the aircraft’s inner workings. The lifelike practice of complex concepts fosters an enhanced understanding of critical operations compared to passive classroom-based teaching methods.

Traditional training processes

The past 50 years have seen immense strides in design and development, making flying safer than ever. Stringent safety protocols and high safety thresholds have driven mechanical failures down to near zero. However, today, most aviation-related incidents can be attributed to human performance because we can’t program better humans the way we can program machines.

Humans perform optimally when they have the right mix of knowledge, experience, and confidence. Traditionally, that was achieved through years of on-the-job training and hundreds of hours working on actual aircraft. Yet, this extensive training time is no longer feasible in today’s fast-paced environment.

During the past two decades, air travel has skyrocketed due to a growing middle class, increased accessibility, and lower travel costs. This surge in demand has prompted aircraft manufacturers to meet airlines’ growing need for new planes. Unfortunately, during this time, the U.S. education system undervalued skilled trades, leading to a shortage of aviation mechanics and a training infrastructure struggling to keep pace. This creates a pressing need for innovative training strategies that balance efficient upskilling with reduced reliance on disassembling and reassembling physical aircraft.

Immersive technology presents a solution to this challenge. These innovative methods enhance safety, revolutionize the way humans learn, provide highly realistic experiences, and instill confidence in trainees – all while reducing costs and preserving valuable resources.

Enhancing traditional training

Today’s fast-paced and intricate aerospace environment exposes several shortcomings in traditional maintenance training efforts. On-site sessions, classroom instructors, and lengthy text documents are outdated methods ill-equipped to prepare crews for the complexities of current aircraft maintenance.

Passive learning methods, such as reading and classroom environments, have also historically been less effective than engaging experiences. Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience, a powerful framework outlining information retention, shows individuals retain far less through passive learning than they learn by doing.

When it comes to aircraft maintenance, aviation mechanics need to frequently be re-trained and are prone to field mistakes, driving up training and maintenance costs. These limitations also make it difficult to provide highly customized training for unique circumstances such as geographical and weather factors.

In VR environments, a physical classroom isn’t needed – nor an in-person teacher. Students engage in hyper-realistic, hands-on training, interacting virtually with real-world aircraft components, such as the complicated hydraulic system of a giant Lockheed C-5 military transport plane, or learning Gulfstream Aerospace G550 business jet pre-flight procedures in real time. This allows them to experiment and make mistakes in a zero-pressure simulation.

The other fascinating concept of immersive reality is connecting with multiple virtual users worldwide in a singular environment. They can even work through four steps of Bruce W. Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development, from forming through performing, that define team growth. Remote collaboration on virtual projects has improved knowledge retention rates as much as 80% and strengthened operational continuity. This improved retention can translate to lower costs by shortening training cycles and reducing the need for re-skilling.

Safety prioritized

Prioritizing safety is paramount in the aerospace industry, where precision and proficiency are crucial for operating complex and expensive equipment. Immersive XR environments offer a unique advantage: an unlimited re-do button allowing workers to experiment and learn from mistakes in a zero-risk setting.

Immersive virtual environments offer a safe space for trainees to learn from their mistakes. They can explore various approaches, test their problem-solving skills, and gain valuable experience without risking harm to themselves or the aircraft – as practicing on live aircraft can lead to wear and the risk of incorrect assembly. Studies show significant cost savings – 83% in total and a 45% reduction in aircraft downtime for training – freeing up valuable time and resources.

Instructors can leverage unique capabilities to alter variables such as weather conditions, equipment conditions, and sound effects, preparing students for diverse operational environments.

By learning from their mistakes without adding unnecessary risk to the task at hand, workers are prepared to handle real-world challenges. This boosts confidence among technicians and mechanics in training and enhances overall safety and efficiency in aircraft operations.

Summary

The integration of XR technology is revolutionizing the aerospace industry by offering innovative solutions to longstanding challenges. With capabilities including remote collaboration, safe work environments, and immersive experiences, technicians and engineers can learn and retain critical information at accelerated rates. The engaging, and safer, training environments not only lead to increased learning retention rates but also foster creativity and innovation among workers.

As industry leaders seek innovative strategies to combat today’s critical operational challenges, immersive learning technologies represent the perfect confluence of practical experience and instructional guidance, driving adaptability and enhanced outcomes within the aerospace industry.

Mass Virtual Inc.
https://massvirtual.com

About the author: Dave Dwyer is chief operations officer at Mass Virtual.