Virtual maintenance training explained

Virtual Maintenance Training (VMT) is a training method that utilizes 3D simulations of real-life vehicles or equipment to train users without direct access to that equipment. It is designed with the intent to teach users the procedures required to repair and maintain equipment effectively.[1] VMT has civil, military, and aviation applications.[2] This approach is used in environments where real-life training may be hazardous or impractical. VMT has been adopted by some training schools and centers, including those within the United States Armed Forces[3], particularly for defense vehicle maintenance. Its application has expanded across multiple industries.[4]

History

Virtual maintenance training emerged to address the challenges of practicing maintenance and repair procedures on hazardous or unavailable equipment. One of the earliest documented uses of virtual environments for repair and maintenance was by NASA in December 1993. During this mission, virtual environment technology was used to construct a model of the Hubble Space Telescope and its replaced or serviced components.[5]

Another example resulted from the work completed by the American Systems Corporation[6] and the DiSTI Corporation, an American software company.[7] DiSTI developed the first full 3D virtual interface maintenance trainer for the U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornet Fighter Jet, which was delivered in 2006. It was the first trainer that did not use actual hardware to train students.[8] [9] Titled the Simulated Aircraft Maintenance Trainer (SAMT), it shows a physical cockpit simulator, and a virtual F/A-18 (including a virtual cockpit) displayed either on two 61-inch touch screens or a PC. The SAMT trainer uses 3D computer graphics, allowing students to navigate and interact with a virtual environment that simulates real-world operations. Studies indicated that the SAMT trainer increased the number of students trained and reduced training expenses compared to traditional methods.[10] [11]

Prevalence in Industries

Within the airline industry, inspection and maintenance for an aircraft is said to be approximately 90% of a visual nature but still needs to be performed consistently over time. As the idea of virtual reality began to advance, maintenance training for aircraft became one of the first applications to incorporate augmented reality in task training procedures.[12]

Virtual maintenance training programs can be seen in the military simulation and training industry, although some do not accept the idea of virtual training. However, it has been noted that a benefit of using VMT is the ability to train on the device or vehicle before the real-world counterpart. Eglin Air Force Base used this in 2012, as the 35 Fighter Wing maintainers could begin their training courses before actual F-35 aircraft was delivered.[13] [14]

The idea of using virtual maintenance training or virtual reality in the industrial and energy industry has been a topic of discussion in recent years. This interest is due to the operations and maintenance procedures performed in high-risk environments, such as nuclear power plants or high-cost and high-yield production plants.[15] The potential use of virtual training in this industry is motivated by the experiences realized from engineering education, and visualization of the complex environments presented in computer-aided design (CAD), a type of software that allows users to create and modify 2D and 3D models.[16] Using a "learn-by-doing" approach, VMT has potential applications in the assembly process. The "learn-by-doing" approach encompasses two primary goals: gaining experience through the simulated environment and actively engaging in the training process.[17]

Platforms and Service Providers

There exist several VMT platforms and service providers, some examples of these are:

Notes and References

  1. Jenab . Kouroush . Moslehpour . Saeid . Khoury . Sam . Virtual Maintenance, Reality, and Systems: A Review . International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE) . December 2016 . 6 . 6 . 2698 . 10.11591/ijece.v6i6.11468 . 24 January 2025 . 2088-8708 . Virtual Maintenance is the world of virtual reality that allows an individual to be trained for a certain task. These tasks could include training, repair, and service to help maintain certain equipment..
  2. Jenab . Kouroush . Moslehpour . Saeid . Khoury . Sam . Virtual Maintenance, Reality, and Systems: A Review . International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE) . December 2016 . 6 . 6 . 2699 . 10.11591/ijece.v6i6.11468 . 24 January 2025 . 2088-8708 . Virtual reality and maintenance can be found in many of our fields. In aviation it has multiple uses, from training of pilots all the way to the maintenance personnel who take care and build the aircraft. For example, simulators prepare pilots to learn how to fly and execute emergency procedures without even stepping foot inside an actual aircraft. At the same time, maintenance personnel can study and learn how systems function and how to perform maintenance task to reduce the risk of damage to parts and the aircraft. The United States military uses virtual reality and simulation to prepare soldiers for combat and to reduce the use of resources like ammunition and fuel. In the civilian world, virtual reality brings many uses to the market..
  3. Web site: Army Sustainment Resource Portal (ASRP) - Ordnance Virtual Training . 2025-01-22 . cascom.army.mil.
  4. Web site: Jenab . Kouroush . September 3, 2016 . Virtual Maintenance, Reality, and Systems: A Review . January 7, 2025 . ResearchGate.
  5. R. Bowen Loftin, Patrick J. Kenney, "Training the Hubble Space Telescope Flight Team," IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 31-37, Sept. 1995
  6. Web site: American Systems Corporation official website . 2011-06-06 . 2011-07-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707062156/http://www.2asc.com/default.htm . live .
  7. Web site: DiSTI official website . 2011-05-18 . 2012-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120815051039/http://www.disti.com/ . dead .
  8. Web site: Canaday, Henry. 2011. Training Goes Virtual, Mobile. Vol. 16. Iss. 2. Military Training Technology. . 2011-05-18 . 2011-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721015043/http://www.military-training-technology.com/mt2-home/310-mt2-2011-volume-16-issue-2-april/4078-training-goes-mobile-virtual.html . live .
  9. Web site: Brooks . Elizabeth . 2024-11-23 . Unlocking new possibilities with DiSTI's virtual training solutions in aviation, defense and automotive . 2024-12-11 . AZ Big Media . en-US.
  10. Web site: Clark, Jim. 2008. Maintenance Simulators Gaining Military Acceptance. Aviation Today. 2011-06-06. 2012-03-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20120313170317/http://www.aviationtoday.com/am/categories/military/27217.html. live.
  11. https://fox5sandiego.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/604001814/the-disti-corporation-and-vtr-announce-strategic-alliance-to-develop-virtual-pilot-training-initiatives/ The Disti Corporation and VTR Announce Strategic Alliance to Develop Virtual Pilot Training Initiatives - Ein Presswire,
  12. Bowling, S. R., Khasawneh, M. T., Kaewkuekool, S., Jiang, X., & Gramopadhye, A. K. (2008). Evaluating the effects of virtual training in an aircraft maintenance task. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 18(1), 104-116.
  13. http://www.disti.com/Corporate/multimedia/publications/pdf/Eglin_AFB_EarlyTraining_04-20-2012.pdf Roganov, K. (2012, April 20). F-35 training center begins formal training. The eglin dispatch, 3-4.
  14. Web site: The Navy's Aegis Virtual Maintenance Trainer . 2024-12-11 . United States Navy . en-US.
  15. Web site: Podcast Transcript: Virtual Training Tools for Industrial Plant Maintenance . 2024-12-11 . www.materialsperformance.com.
  16. Book: SARCAR . M. M. M. . Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing . RAO . K. MALLIKARJUNA . NARAYAN . K. LALIT . 2008-05-05 . PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. . 978-81-203-3342-0 . en.
  17. Sousa, M. P. A., Filho, M. R., Nunes, M. V. A., & Lopes, A. C. (2010). Maintenance and operation of a hydroelectric unit of energy in a power system using virtual reality. Electrical power and energy systems, 32, 599-606.

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