Training police employees – a VR application in the field of ergonomics
What is a VR app that educates police officers?
The “MORATEX” Institute of Security Technologies
The “MORATEX” Institute of Security Technology in Łódź was established 1953. Its current activity and mission are focused on the assumptions of the Horizon 2020 Program of the European Union (including, in particular, the area of security), which determines the transformation of the European Union into a safe place with the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy, capable of creating more and better jobs and guaranteeing greater social cohesion. That is why the institute actively carries out research tasks for uniformed services to offer them new material, technological, and product solutions.
Challenge
Ensuring effective induction of police officers into the secrets of their work environment
- The “MORATEX” Łódź Institute of Security Technology aims to improve training processes for future and current police officers to increase their effectiveness and safety. As a result, the institute decided to partner with Giant Lazer to have its specialists help them penetrate the VR infrastructure to train and educate police officers.
- The exercises offered to users in virtual reality technology include tasks related to assembling various types of weapons, getting ready to shoot, shooting down targets, recognizing civilians, and exploring rooms as efficiently as possible in search of criminals. One of the challenges faced while developing the application was creating realistic 3D models of weapons.
- The application and goggles should also consider variable parameters (weather conditions, random events, and distracting elements, i.e., those that affect the senses and cause distractions, e.g., screams, explosions, lightning, fire). They allow you to prepare the user for work in unpredictable working conditions.
Photorealistic weapons are one of the most significant advantages of the application. The mission of the designed 3D models is to prepare police officers to handle firearms safely and efficiently.
One of the project’s main elements was combining VR training with fitness exercises from outside virtual reality. This enables the proper physical preparation of police officers to perform their profession.
Solution
Familiarizing police officers with the characteristics and ergonomics of their work using the VR application
- The VR Ergonomics application consists of several stages, three of which are implemented using VR headsets, and the remaining three take place outside VR (e.g., on a treadmill). One of the stages created in virtual reality focuses on developing the ability to assemble weapons – the policemen are in a room where three types of firearms are hung on the wall. The firearms disassemble themselves so the user can prepare them to be used again.
- Exercises requiring physical effort were also included in the training plan. Walking, jogging, running on a treadmill at a certain speed, distance, and inclination, climbing up and down a ladder, and taking a shot in standing, kneeling, and lying positions are some of the many proposed types of sports tasks that shape the police officers’ physical condition.
- The VR training software also includes a task evaluation mode, which considers parameters such as the accuracy of shots, the number of bullets fired, the number of targets shot down, the reaction time to stimuli, and the length of passage through designated rooms.
Diversify training and education with engaging content
Our specialists took care of every detail of the training. An animation was prepared for the exercises performed on a regular treadmill, which is displayed to the trainees on a TV above the treadmill. Visual materials are conducive to greater focus and involvement in the exercises performed, as if in a game.
Here is a fragment of the animation.
The course is played using carefully designed 3D models
The Giant Lazer team developed every element of the application in such a way that, by using VR headsets, the police officers in training could immerse themselves in the world programmed with the use of virtual reality technology.
See what 3D weapon models police officers use to learn their profession.
Technology
VR treadmill KAT Walk C 2
The first device optimized for VR users ensures that all physical activities are reflected in virtual reality.
Delivering unrestricted and natural movement in VR, the KAT Walk C2 enables new interaction through intuitive body movements. One device makes it possible to unlock an exceptionally realistic exploration of virtual worlds in every possible way.
This treadmill gives users a sense of even greater immersion and sensations possible in VR, literally right under their feet.
Varjo XR-3 headsets
Extremely photorealistic virtual reality made by Varjo 3rd generation goggles.
They are characterized by high resolution and a wide range of colors. In addition, they enable integrated hand and eye tracking without the need for base stations. All this adds to virtual reality’s fast, accurate, and detailed actions.
Varjo XR-3 headsets
Extremely photorealistic virtual reality made by Varjo 3rd generation goggles.
They are characterized by high resolution and a wide range of colors. In addition, they enable integrated hand and eye tracking without the need for base stations. All this adds to virtual reality’s fast, accurate, and detailed actions.
Ultimately, Giant Lazer managed to design a VR solution that enables more than one continuous training process for police officers because it also considers the possibility of expanding with new scenarios and updating the contained information and requirements.
Effects
- Success #1 | The trainees’ results can be efficiently reported in the application
The “MORATEX” Institute was presented with a product that provides training instructors with records of all actions taken by students, lists of the most common mistakes, and a ranking of the best results. The application also offers the possibility of electronically storing data and exporting it to a file.
- Success #2 | Multifunctionality of virtual reality in police training
The uniformed services were provided with a complete training system using VR technology. It allows police officers to immerse themselves in virtual reality and take on the challenges of their profession. Using VR headsets, users learn how to assemble and use weapons, target shooting, recognize civilians, efficiently explore rooms, and care for their physical condition. The gameplay is reminiscent of a game that ultimately trains professionals.
- Success #3 | Realistic and safe police tools
The application contains three types of weapons used in police activities, and the construction and mechanics faithfully reflect their real counterparts. Thanks to this, policemen can freely acquire knowledge and practice using them during VR training without risking their health or life.
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