Augmented Reality Fire Drills Make Training More Efficient
Although we adults don't see it often, school kids practice fire drills on a regular basis. These exercises are important for safety, but children do not take them seriously. At most, they see the exercises as a way to take a break from their classes for a short time. What if they could actually see the flames? Developed by a team of engineers from Sejong University, this augmented reality fire drill system is inspired by video games to provide more effective training.
This mixed reality system, which combines elements of virtual reality and augmented reality, makes fire drill training more interactive. Instead of simply evacuating a building following a pre-set route, participants perform basic firefighting tasks and discover smoky rooms. Using a familiar video game medium, it gives kids a more realistic and believable idea of what an emergency might look like. It is also useful for adults, as it challenges them to take action.
This action mainly takes the form of virtual fires, which participants put out using fire extinguishers. Mixed reality visuals are simple because the technology is now mainstream. The VIVE VR system can, for example, recognize objects like tables and overlay flame effects. But the fire extinguisher stands out. Instead of a standard VR controller, this system uses a custom interface that looks like a real fire extinguisher.
This fire extinguisher has a VIVE PRO tracker, which allows the system to monitor its position. The nozzle has an MPU-9265 gyroscope and the handle has a momentary switch. Both connect to an Arduino Uno WiFI Rev2 board, which transmits sensor data to the augmented reality system. With this material, participants can handle the virtual fire extinguisher like a real one. The system knows when users activate the extinguisher and the direction they are pointing the nozzle, so it can determine if they are putting out virtual fires.
More details on the project can be found in the team document here.
Image credit: Kang et al.
Although we adults don't see it often, school kids practice fire drills on a regular basis. These exercises are important for safety, but children do not take them seriously. At most, they see the exercises as a way to take a break from their classes for a short time. What if they could actually see the flames? Developed by a team of engineers from Sejong University, this augmented reality fire drill system is inspired by video games to provide more effective training.
This mixed reality system, which combines elements of virtual reality and augmented reality, makes fire drill training more interactive. Instead of simply evacuating a building following a pre-set route, participants perform basic firefighting tasks and discover smoky rooms. Using a familiar video game medium, it gives kids a more realistic and believable idea of what an emergency might look like. It is also useful for adults, as it challenges them to take action.
This action mainly takes the form of virtual fires, which participants put out using fire extinguishers. Mixed reality visuals are simple because the technology is now mainstream. The VIVE VR system can, for example, recognize objects like tables and overlay flame effects. But the fire extinguisher stands out. Instead of a standard VR controller, this system uses a custom interface that looks like a real fire extinguisher.
This fire extinguisher has a VIVE PRO tracker, which allows the system to monitor its position. The nozzle has an MPU-9265 gyroscope and the handle has a momentary switch. Both connect to an Arduino Uno WiFI Rev2 board, which transmits sensor data to the augmented reality system. With this material, participants can handle the virtual fire extinguisher like a real one. The system knows when users activate the extinguisher and the direction they are pointing the nozzle, so it can determine if they are putting out virtual fires.
More details on the project can be found in the team document here.
Image credit: Kang et al.
What's Your Reaction?
