SMARTSCENE™: DIGITAL
TRAINING
Learn the System by Being Part of the System
A technical paper written by
Ray Homan
Executive Vice President
GM SmartScene Division
November 1997
INTRODUCTION
Realtime simulation as an operational training tool has traditionally been the preserve of applications where expense and risk in actual scenarios are easily recognized factors - such as flight or driving simulators. As hardware and software technologies for realtime environments stride forward, industry is increasingly aware of the applicability of simulation to efficient design and operational training. Moves to incorporate the human element into design, operation, and maintenance of systems mean it will become common for operators to learn by functioning within a virtual system, via "operator-in-the-loop" technologies. Incorporating simulationÆs easy-to-use and re-usable applications as a standard element in the design and maintenance process ensures safe, high-caliber, cost-effective training in a wide range of corporate and industrial scenarios.
HOW SMARTSCENE FITS IN
MultiGen®Æs interactive realtime technology, SmartScene™, takes the "operator-in-the-loop" as its starting point. It focuses on the natural tendencies of operators and technicians within constrained evaluation, training, and testing environments. This not only streamlines the application learning process, but by extension, the ease-of-use of the simulated training environment, and ultimately, the real operating environment itself. SmartScene enables you to train your workforce in a realtime 3D environment that recreates their expected work conditions: from sequential assembly processes to handling dangerous materials.
BENEFITS OF REALTIME SIMULATION
A digital training environment offers unique advantages: a sense of scale, scenario generation, real world replication, true interaction with 3D virtual objects, and improved skill acquisition from in-the-loop learning.
Being part of the system
Digital training enables companies to build a workforce with value added skills in a more timely and cost-effective manner. It accelerates the learning curve for new operators and technicians, and speeds the process of becoming familiar with new designs and modifications. When people are able to train the way they will work - interacting in the recreated environment - they work the way they were trained.
Educational scalability, levels training, diagnostics
Operators can move from basic familiarity with parts and processes through increasingly complex realtime training scenarios, gaining virtual hands-on experience that translates directly to the workplace. Maintenance personnel can train in diagnostics, such as identifying faulty valves in fuel systems, without risk. Simulation enables the re-creation of multiple training scenarios to test and train participants for almost every conceivable real world eventuality.
Simulate scenarios that are too expensive or risky for real world performance
Workers can hone skills and learn new ones without risk to the product, and they can train until they reach operational targets. Operators of dangerous equipment or procedures can gain speed and familiarity without risking themselves or co-workers, for example in assembly line operations.
Efficiently track and re-use development cycles
Digital technology enables companies to link procedures to maintaining databases of training hours and certification levels. They can then enhance future product designs by using "in-the-loop" training database results.
Reusability
As curriculum needs change, the simulated environment can be easily modified to meet new requirements. Because the digital environment doesnÆt wear out and can be re-used without limits, training costs shrink.
WHY SMARTSCENE?
The fusion of MultiGenÆs industry-leading realtime technologies with an intuitive two-handed interface is unique to SmartScene. The combination creates the most efficient and accessible immersive technology available. Technicians in manufacturing industries - such as aircraft, large equipment, or automobiles - can operate within minutes in a hands-on, interactive, realtime environment.
SmartScene is the first immersive training tool to put the operator or technician "in the loop" in a realtime training application that is, to virtually recreate their true work environment. For operations such as sequential assembly, the order of events is critical. SmartScene enables operators and technicians to train interactively multiple times in realtime, prior to actual operation.
SmartScene is also an integrated part of MultiGenÆs package of realtime 3D modeling software and services. Using the Smarts™ Editor, an option to MultiGen II, users can "educate" scene components with ModelTime™ behaviors. These behaviors enable models to behave in keeping with their role in the virtual world.
MultiGen also provides professional services that support all aspects of realtime development. While most projects are achievable with the SmartScene documentation provided, MultiGenÆs Solution Center is a valuable resource in helping customers meet their requirements cost-effectively.
ELEMENTS OF SMARTSCENE
SmartScene can be customized for specific requirements, opening its entire virtual world to external plug-ins. SmartScene is a bona fide development and runtime environment for task training, providing the type of access that will satisfy even the most demanding user and developer needs. SmartScene has four major elements:
A robust API. This allows customers to "plug-in" their own code. Access for collision detection, spatial audio, control of usersÆ representation, and administrative controls for loading and unloading plug-ins all become possible. For example, a SmartScene user in a training environment may hear instructor comments as he proceeds through a training exercise, pull up schematic information, or gain access to maintenance records as part of an enhanced scenario.
A GUI development environment. In this environment, users can not only change the look and feel of SmartSceneÆs menu, but attach a menu of their own design to any object within the scene. This is especially beneficial in training. For example, in each step of the sequence, the interface itself could be dynamically updated, showing new positioning information or modifying the tools needed in the next operation.
Simpler external configuring. Performing external configurations for SmartScene is now much easier. This, for example, makes it very easy for a user to configure different types of peripherals (HMDs, position trackers, stereo modes, etc.) with different flavors of SmartScene
Alternative viewing options. The head mount display (HMD) is still supported and provides the greatest amount of 3D immersive feel, but thatÆs now supplemented by "through-the-window" technology. Instead of using an HMD, the user can view the SmartScene environment via stereo glasses or directly from the monitor. These viewing options greatly reduce the cost of the SmartScene peripherals; while surrendering only a portion of the 3D immersive feel.
CONCLUSION
SmartScene is ideally suited to in-the-loop operations, with key features that make it the premier choice for digital prototyping, diagnostics, and training. Its ease-of-use and intuitive environment push productivity forward from the first operation. As competition increases across the board, the demand for improvements in training and prototyping increases accordingly. Efficient training and product development fuel competitive growth. SmartScene delivers the productivity, creativity, and efficiency that are critical to competitive operation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Chantelle Shaban at (Tel) 408-556-2616 or (Fax) 408-261-4101 or email chantelle@multigen.com.
© 1997 MultiGen Inc. MultiGen is a registered trademark and SmartScene, ModelTime, and Smarts are trademarks of MultiGen Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.Copyright 1997 MultiGen Inc.