Plextek develops low cost VR for military training

Design firm Plextek says it has completed a proof of concept project with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to create an immersive skills training system for trainee tank drivers and pilots using the virtual reality headset the Oculus Rift.

Plextek VR

Using a commercially-available laptop and the Oculus Rift headset, the VR system will be used to give potential tank drivers the chance to test and hone vital skills such as hand-to-eye coordination, reading maps and 3D displays and team work.

Once wearing the headset, the user navigates themselves through different landscapes, carrying out different tasks such as matching colours and shapes while simultaneously balancing items using their controllers.

It is also possible too set-up collaboration exercises with other team members.

The MoD hopes to use the relatively low cost system to save money when using VR for troop training. A traditional simulation training system can cost as much as £20m or £575 for an hour rental.

Collette Johnson, Director of Medical & Healthcare at Plextek, writes:

“Virtual reality is revolutionising the quality and accuracy of training programmes for the military, providing the chance for military personnel to not only understand the skills they are proficient in, but where they must learn and develop further.”

VR system will also be used to streamline the overall time and cost of training by filtering out weaker candidates, who are a drain on resources, earlier in the process.

There plans to expand beyond tank drivers to introduce a variety of other job functions across the tri-services.