Virtual welding training can reduce training costs and improve welder productivity. Immersive virtual reality presents an exceptional opportunity to provide learning by doing. Unlike manual or computer-based training, virtual reality creates a hands-on experience that augments visualization with muscle memory and kinetic awareness.
Because 90% of all learning is visual, the effectiveness of virtual reality training creates a powerful learning platform. Studies have proven that participants have enhanced retention rates and are more effective in repeating tasks using VR training.
VRSim was selected by the Navy Joining Center and Edison Welding Institute to develop a VR welder training system. The approach combines state-of-the-art virtual reality technology from VRSim with the welding process knowledge base of EWI.
The training simulation displays the entire welding process and final weld in a virtual environment. Educational metrics include tip-to-workspace, tip angle and weld speed values. The instructor can also replay each session for evaluation and analysis.
Virtual reality is used to train surgeons, pilots, astronauts, police officers, first-responders, and soldiers. Advancing knowledge of the welding process enhances its ability to be simulated in a virtual environment. Using our immersive VR system, trainers can easily demonstrate, instruct and critique each weld.
Key benefits include:
- Improvements of manufacturing efficiency and cost
- Higher quality welders through increased repetition of training.
- Improvements in training metrics
- Reduction of risks
- Reduced training material costs
- Saved time
VRSim lets you graduate from instruction manuals and videos into the world of immersive environments for real-time, hands-on instruction. Our virtual welding training system provides solutions using a state-of-the-art approach, making learning easier, more cost effective and more productive.
Virtual Reality Program to Train Welders for Shipbuilding
A virtual reality approach for welder training has the potential to increase training effectiveness while significantly reducing labor and material costs, which are estimated to exceed $5 million per year in the shipbuilding industry alone.
The Navy Joining Center has initiated a project to develop an innovative welder training approach. The approach leverages the welding process knowledge base of Edison Welding Institute with the state-of-the-art techniques in virtual reality (VR) technology from VRSim, and the product-centered/manufacturing-simulation approaches in use by General Dynamics Electric Boat.
A greater emphasis on system affordability in Navy ship construction is driving an increased need to improve the cost and efficiency of all manufacturing- related operations within the shipbuilding process. Increasing performance requirements for ship systems are also raising the bar for structural fabrication and welders' skills to build these high-value components.
An aging workforce, coupled with a reduction in welding programs in vocational schools, is creating a gap in the availability of skilled welders for ship construction. At the same time, engineering knowledge of the welding process continues to expand, increasing the awareness of factors that contribute to first-time weld quality and in turn facilitate the ability for those processes to be simulated in a virtual environment.
Based on these changes in the overall shipbuilding environment and a commitment from General Dynamics Electric Boat to expand the use of simulation tools in shipbuilding, the time is right to consider virtual reality for welder training in support of submarine fabrication.
Virtual reality training has demonstrated the ability to teach precision manipulation skills for medical, aviation, law enforcement, and military applications.
A VR approach for welder training has the potential to increase training effectiveness while significantly reducing labor and material costs, which are estimated to exceed $5 million per year in the shipbuilding industry alone. Virtual reality technology also offers the unique ability to tailor training to specific applications thus improving performance and productivity, while decreasing rework and repair. However, a lack of experience with virtual reality applications and the relatively high start-up and development costs have posed a significant entry barrier for manufacturers wishing to apply virtual reality to their current training needs.
VRSim has defined the software and hardware requirements for the system and is developing the fundamental welding simulations based upon hands-on welder training provided by General Dynamics Electric Boat, and a neural net of welding process data generated by Edison Welding Institute.
The goal of the first phase of this project is to develop, demonstrate, and validate the basic VR technology for welder training. A demonstration of this technology is expected later this year at the Quonset Point Facility of General Dynamics Electric Boat.
The ultimate vision of this initiative is to produce an innovative virtual reality welder training system for shipbuilding that can be easily transitioned to other defense manufacturing applications.
Welding simulator
An aging workforce, coupled with a reduction in welding programs in vocational schools, is creating a gap in the availability of skilled welders for ship construction.
A virtual reality approach for welder training has the potential to increase training effectiveness while significantly reducing labor and material costs, which are estimated to exceed $5 million per year in the shipbuilding industry alone.
Based on the HapticMASTER, VRSim developed a complete system
VRSim, Inc. produces virtual reality simulations for a wide range of applications
Key benefits:
- Improvements of manufacturing efficiency and cost
- Higher quality welders through increased repetition of training.
- Improvements in training metrics
- Reduction of risks
- Reduced training material costs
- Saved time
VRSim, Inc. produces virtual reality simulations for a wide range of applications
