VR Training System

A company operating in the education sector, providing specialized occupational health and safety (OHS) training for power engineers.

The organization plans to expand its offering across European markets, delivering advanced training services for professionals working in high-risk environments.

Traditional training methods did not prepare engineers for real-world risk.

Power engineers operate in environments that involve significant hazards, including work at height, exposure to high voltage, and operation within complex technical installations.

Conventional classroom-based training lacked realism and did not adequately reflect the conditions engineers face in the field. This limited the effectiveness of training and made it difficult to assess whether participants were truly prepared for high-risk situations.

As a result, there was a need for a training approach that could replicate real-world conditions and improve both skill development and risk awareness.

To increase training effectiveness and improve safety outcomes, the company needed a solution that could:

• simulate real working conditions in a controlled environment
• expose trainees to realistic risk scenarios without physical danger
• provide immediate feedback on incorrect actions
• support assessment of both technical skills and behavioural responses

The solution had to go beyond visual simulation and create a multi-sensory training experience.

A VR-based training system was developed to simulate high-risk working environments and improve the effectiveness of OHS training.

The system combines virtual reality with physical components that replicate real-world conditions, creating an immersive and interactive training experience.

It includes multiple training scenarios, such as working on high-voltage poles, operating from a basket elevator, and performing tasks in medium-voltage switching stations.

Additional physical elements enhance realism and provide direct feedback to trainees during exercises.

The platform combines virtual reality, embedded systems, and hardware integration:

• Unity for VR environment development and simulation
• .NET for backend services and application logic
• C++ for control of electronic components and hardware integration
• Pneumatic control systems for physical movement simulation
• 3D printing for custom hardware components and enclosures

The system immerses trainees in realistic virtual environments that replicate actual working conditions.

Physical components are integrated with the VR experience, including:

• controlled wind simulation to mimic environmental conditions
• a safety vest with vibration feedback to signal incorrect actions
• a basket elevator simulator with multi-axis movement

Trainee responses are monitored, including physiological signals such as heart rate, providing additional insight into behaviour under stress.

This combination of virtual and physical elements creates a training environment that closely reflects real-world conditions.

The system significantly improves the realism and effectiveness of safety training.

Trainees are exposed to scenarios that closely resemble real working conditions, allowing them to better understand risks and develop appropriate responses.

Immediate feedback and realistic simulation improve learning outcomes and increase engagement compared to traditional training methods.

The solution delivered measurable improvements across key areas:

• Higher training effectiveness, through realistic and immersive simulations
• Improved risk awareness, enabling better decision-making in the field
• Reduced likelihood of accidents, by preparing engineers for real conditions
• Better assessment of trainee readiness, including behavioural responses under stress
• New revenue opportunities, through scalable, advanced training services