Engineering virtual reality for real learning

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K02940
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09080:Science education-related
• Research Institution: Future University-Hakodate
• 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)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: virtual reality / education / engineering

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A VR solar power plant was designed using Unity, informed by the expertise of a solar power company. Data from a real-world solar plant was then captured and viewed in real-time as a 3D visualization within SolarVR. The Oculus Rift HMD was used for viewing the developed virtual solar plant. A local solar panel was physically set up to capture data of temperature (C), humidity (%), power (W), voltage (V), and current (A), recorded from the MPPT Controller to a web-based Dashboard programmed using NODE-Red. The data was sent to an Azure server database and then streamed direct to the SolarVR Unity Project to be viewed in a custom-designed 3D Visualization. Learners progress through five modes as they gain experience: receptive, analytic, productive, development, and psychosocial.

Free Research Field

virtual reality

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Varying 3D displays of voltage, current, inductance and power promoted inter and intra-cognitive communication of 3D data. It was determined that learners progress through five modes as they gain experience: receptive, analytic, productive, development, and psychosocial.