AR VR IN AVIATION INDUSTRY
AR and VR technology is the utmost trending tech leaving its excessive effect in almost all the commercial sectors. It is evolving rapidly and proving to be a effective game-changer in this ultra-tempo world. With its advanced features, these technologies permit its users to pave a direction and get immersed into different dimensions without getting involved with any physical circumstances. As a result, many industries are now readily experimenting with this immersive technology to streamline their operations, enhance capabilities, and educate personnel in a higher manner.
Taking into consideration the excessive risks involved in the aviation enterprise, the expensive nature, and moreover the excessive price of creating errors, AR-VR attests to be a worthy asset to aviation companies. From constructiong planes and training pilots, all the way to the in-flight experience, AR and VR permits more safer and more effective testing, training, and flying experience. It, therefore, is rational for the aviation enterprise to incorporate AR and VR into the numerous procedures and systems.
Here, let’s look at how virtual reality and augmented reality is remodeling the aviation enterprise and assisting it in many ways.
Training :
- Pilot / Flight deck training:
The flight deck crew includes the pilot and co-pilot who sit in the airplane cockpit. Pilots have to undergo extensive hours of training using flight simulators and computer screens, which have proven to be effective throughout the years, however they’re pretty costly and cumbersome expert training gadgets. Besides that airports are typically too busy for pilot training to be scheduled. Hence, real-environment training is usually arduous and resource-intensive for the aviation enterprise.
Virtual reality eyewear and related devices allow more features to be incorporated just by inputting some unique codes. All feasible scenarios that could happen in the real environment of the airport can be experienced virtually. VR part-task trainers help familiarize the flight deck crew with the cockpit and train them on the necessary skills needed to react quickly and handle even the most difficult circumstances. With a virtual environment and head-mounted display (HMDs), pilots can familiarize themselves with the cockpit controls and different scenarios they might face while flying, increasing the quality of training and decreasing the costs.
Bohemia Interactive Simulations, a global developer of simulation and training systems, created the BISim — a VR flight simulator that uses an Oculus Rift CV1 headset, D-Box Motion Cueing System, and a Vesaro simulator to offer a vivid and highly immersive virtual environment. With such software, pilot training across different kinds of aircraft can happen even without traditional simulators made of real cockpit parts.
- Cabin crew training:
Cabin crew staff aren’t just responsible for ensuring all the passengers are comfortable, however additionally liable for making sure protection and making sure that each one device is operating well.
By substituting classroom training with VR training, cabin crew can easily learn how to handle difficult real-life situations like clinical emergencies, an impending crash, or hijacking through a virtual medium. With the immersive VR technology, cabin crew staff can make mistakes in virtual training and learn from them, which directly ends in a better on-site job performance.
- Ground crew training:
For any plane to be able to take off and land safely, a skilled crew on the ground is vital. They are the folks that hold the plane itself and ensure that it is in absolute condition to fly. AR technology can be used but for the ground crew, aircraft engineers can use augmented reality glasses in simulating and testing installation processes. Meanwhile, the maintenance crew can benefit from interactive inspection instructions, virtual arrows, and labels. Using augmented reality eyewear, aviation ground crew can carry out the job without the risk of error that could seriously impact lives.
Airbus is using the VR technology through its portable RHEA kit which comes with a virtual reality headset, touchpads, and infrared cameras that allow its mechanics to inspect and repair aircraft in a completely immersive medium.
In flight entertainment:
It’s normal for people to feel discomfort while flying due to surrounding disturbances or simply the same old plane noise. This can in turn make relaxing and unwinding a tussle for many. However, a VR head-mounted display along with headphones can give passengers the perfect escape to relax and take a breath even in a completely packed flight. Although such technology can provide entertainment, those who find flying unbearable can also plunge themselves within the VR world and have a more comfortable flight experience overall.
Air France, Joon, and Japan Airlines partnered with SkyLights and two major production names — 20th Century Fox and Dreamworks — to offer virtual reality headsets as an alternative in-flight option for passengers. Connected to an individual’s seat, it features a high-definition screen and diopter correction, automatically adjusting to the user’s eyes.
Aircraft guidance:
Even though flying is the safest form of transport — only 1 in 11 million possibilities for a crash — there are still safety issues when it comes to commercial aviation. In the years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, there have been 59, 860, and 287 deaths, respectively, due to airline crashes and failures.
AR technology can doubtlessly reduce the risk in both instances. It can enhance the pilot’s ability to access current details like terrain, navigation, traffic, and weather alongside safety information like an emergency, pre-flight, in-flight, and landing.
Aero Glass is one interesting example. Aero Glass are clever glasses that provide information to a pilot via overlaying data and other visuals. These include taxi guidance, departure information, obstacle avoidance, flight plans in addition to cockpit records among many other points of information.
Seeing how flexible AR and VR can be, both technologies can disrupt the world of aviation. With their potential and proven impact on training, safety, and entertainment, AR and VR will certainly be commercial flight requisites in the not-so-far flung future.