2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Engineering virtual reality for real learning
| Project/Area Number |
18K02940
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| Research Institution | Future University-Hakodate |
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Principal Investigator |
Vallance Michael 公立はこだて未来大学, システム情報科学部, 教授 (00423781)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | virtual reality / education / learning |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
A VR environment is being designed for education and familiarity with solar power data collection and maintenance. A simulation of a solar panel circuit is set up. Solar panel and environmental data are sent to an Azure cloud server database. The data is then transferred to a Unity project replicating a real-world solar power plant. That data is then viewed by the user (technician, student) in 3D via the Oculus Rift HMD. The user can maneuver around the plant and the data. The user can reset or enhance the data metrics for better interpretation. The user can then determine the next course of action: e.g. fix locally or require physical maintenance. All components are being created, programmed and implemented by FUN students with expert advice from international participants.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The type of communication refers to the type of information that is conveyed between the two communicating entities, and the way in which this is done: Intra-cognitive communication and Inter-cognitive communication. The current VR scenario is: User flies drone over solar panels; One panel row has particles emanating above it thereby indicating a problem; Fly drone into particles which, in turn, will teleport the user to a data scene; Graph in new scene illustrates live data; User manipulates controller to maneuver around the graph, view the data, and select different data metrics to show and hide (current and voltage or current and irradiance); User attempts to identify a problem given the visualized data and determine a possible solution. Procedure shared at VRST conference.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
User attempts to repair the identified problem remotely (e.g. sensor malfunction). User can request a remote colleague to enter the VR space to cooperate to identify a possible problem and solution. If unsuccessful, the user authorizes the dispatch of a local technician to conduct physical repairs. Need to write a SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) for users. Time and money can be saved by evaluating problems remotely prior to dispatching technicians often for many hours to remote countryside locations. The advantage of the VR scenario is that it can be used for science education at High Schools and training technicians at companies.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The initial goal has been to receive data from live sensors into a solar power plant scenario. That data then needed to be visualized in an informed manner for ease of access and interpretation. The next goal is to be able to communicate back from the VR scenario to the sensors in order to effect a repair, a recalibration or a restart.
Education tasks require planning and trialing. Procedural knowledge (how), Declarative knowledge (what) and Metacognitive knowledge (why) of users need to be analysed. However, cybersickness is a problem which needs further investigation.
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