SBIR-STTR Award

Current fire fighting training methods are possibly lacking maximum effectiveness due to increasing safety and environmental regulation. Additionally, performance measurement in large classes becomes difficult unless trainees have identical training scenarios and evaluations. This proposal details the analysis of current training methods and subsequent emulation of them using virtual reality (VR). Phase I will consist of a study of training methods used at Goodfellow AFB's Fire School followed with an intense design and analysis of a VR fire fighter trainer to be used in live fireground training augmentation. The six-month project will conclude with a final report recommending training fire scenarios, interactive trainer interfaces and measurement tools, hardware platforms and a preliminary design for VR fire fighter trainer to be developed in Phase II. Technical feasibility and assessment of operational accuracy will also be investigated and document.

Keywords:
Fire Fighting Training Virtual Reality Simulator Virtual Environments

Using emerging commercial off-the-shelf VR technology integrated with custom Phase II developed VR hardware and software, 5, Inc. will create a spatially immersive and physically realistic tactical simulator-trainer to augment live burn-room training throughout the USAF fire service. As a result, human performance and behavioral responses will be greatly increased through more intensive and stressful tactical training scenarios. Use of the INFERNO trainer will drastically reduce the costs and environmental and safety-related impacts of required burn-room training and qualification as well as provide significant improvements in fire suppression, aircraft rescue and hazardous materials mitigation. To provide improved fire control performance in trainees, INFERNO will immerse them in standard burn-room training scenarios as well as infernos and firetraps not possible with standard training methodologies. The system will employ immersive head-mounted display technology and produce 3D sound, realistic radiant and convective heat from flames, concussions from flashover and backdrafts, structural disintegration and collapse, and steam to create stressors found in live fire suppression efforts. The closely-controlled realistic training scenarios will allow instructors to more consistently train and score students through identically simulated burn exercises.

Keywords:
Fire Fighting Training Virtual Reality Simulator Virtual Environments