Fighting Rust in Virtual Reality
The United States Navy is exploring latest ways to combat rust and corrosion, which costs the Navy billions of dollars per 12 months in repairs and fixes to ships and other naval vessels. To address this issue, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) has partnered with Glendale Community College (GCC) to make use of virtual reality (VR) to show students corrosion control and related skills.
The Partnership
The Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA) between NSWC PHD and GCC goals to arrange students for technical military or civilian careers straight from community colleges. The partnership will utilize GCC’s state-of-the-art Virtual Reality Center, which was established with a $4.5 million state grant and features equipment from Dreamscape Learn, a VR-education company founded by seasoned Hollywood VR professionals.
How it Works
In the virtual reality simulations, students wear headsets with screens that display a virtual environment, and cameras track their body motions, allowing them to "move" around within the virtual world. This creates a way of full immersion, making the educational experience more engaging and effective. Studies have shown that VR as a learning tool can improve student grades, with a 2022 study at Arizona State University finding that students who used VR software averaged 9% higher grades than those in conventional courses.
Benefits for the Navy
The partnership goals to handle the Navy’s corrosion problem by training students to discover and address corrosion in a virtual environment. This may help reduce the prices related to training on actual ships at sea and supply a more practical method to transfer knowledge to a brand new generation of sailors. The Navy’s corrosion lead, Armen Kvryan, hopes to create a certification program at GCC that students can list on their resumes, giving them a bonus within the job market.
Ideal Partnership
GCC is a great partner for this initiative as a consequence of its status for robust STEM programs and its large population of lively military and veterans. The school’s proximity to Los Angeles also provides access to the film industry, which has contributed to the event of its Virtual Reality Center. The partnership will remain in effect for 3 years, with the choice to proceed it further.
Conclusion
The partnership between NSWC PHD and GCC has the potential to revolutionize the best way the Navy approaches corrosion control and training. By utilizing virtual reality, the Navy can provide more practical and fascinating training, while also addressing the knowledge gap left by retiring personnel. This revolutionary approach may help the Navy save billions of dollars in repairs and fixes, and supply a brand new generation of sailors with the abilities they need to reach their careers.
