Case Study: Polhemus Powers Cutting Edge Welding Simulator
Bridging the Skills Gap: Apolo Studios' Welding Simulator Tackles Industry Shortage
More than half of all man-made products require welding, and according to the American Welding Society, the welding industry will face a massive worker shortage over the next few years unless more people join the trade. To address this need, Apolo Studios set out to build a cost-effective, realistic welding simulator to improve the quality and accessibility of student training.
WeldTrainer: Revolutionizing Welding Training Through Precision Simulation
Apolo Studios developed WeldTrainer, a welding simulator built for the vocational training world. Using cutting edge technology and real-time electromagnetic motion tracking from Polhemus, WeldTrainer allows the user to be immersed in a virtual space where numerous welding tasks can be practiced.
WeldTrainer’s welding tools are perfectly weighted to replicate real equipment, allowing students to get an accurate feel for the tools while immersed in the simulation. A Polhemus sensor is embedded inside the tool and a small magnetic transmitter (called a Source) is placed nearby to allow for highly precise motion tracking. The tool’s position and orientation are tracked so that the visuals in the simulation headset perfectly match the student’s movement. To prevent negative training and ensure immersion, a low latency tracking solution without line-of-sight restrictions is critical.
Distance, orientation angles, and speed of the welding tools are displayed to the user within the simulation software. The system checks for user errors during the welding procedure, providing objective, real-time feedback on the student’s movement and technique, allowing for on-the-spot learning. Every exercise is recorded and sent to the instructor, enabling review of each exercise performed. Having highly accurate tracking of the welding tools is imperative in this regard so that the performance metrics are correct--this ensures students learn appropriate technique.
High quality simulators reduce training costs, improve learning outcomes, and provide students with more training hours and repetition of practice. WeldTrainer is making it easier and safer for professionals to learn to weld and enter a much needed trade.
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