A Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR) Laboratory for Industrial Applications in Shipbuilding and Shipboard Operations
Abstract
Old Dominion University (ODU), designated a "Minority Serving Institution" by the US Department of Education s Office of Postsecondary Education, established the Naval Engineering and Marine Systems Institute (NEMSI) in 2014 to promote faculty-student engagement in multi-disciplinary research, development, experimentation and transition of technologies to maximize the technical excellence and affordability across the design, construction, acquisition, modernization, operation and logistic support of marine vessels fo military, commercial and recreational use. NEMSI fosters government-academia - industry collaboration and pursues curriculum and lab advancements across all five departments in the Batten College of Engineering and Techno logy (BCET), student engagement and retention, community outreach, and professional readiness to produce an advanced workforce to meet national competitive needs in the marine industry. NEMSI researchers working closely with ODU s Modeling, Simulation and Visualization Engineering Department propose a VR/AR Laboratory for Industrial Applications in Shipbuilding and Shipboard Operations to expand the University s existing infrastructure, develop new capabilities, and advance the research, development and applications of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) that will radically transform shipbuilding and shipboard operations to include: significant reductions in costs for ship construction, maintenance and availability, advanced skilled labor workforce training, enhanced situational awareness and shipboard safety, advanced integration of weapon system command and control, and augmented navigation in critical waterways, just to name a few. The requested state-of-the-art equipment will enhance ODU s existing collaborations with the Navy and shipbuilding industry and create opportunities to include new government/ industry/ academic partners pursuing common research and education endeavors in augmented reality / virtual reality for naval industrial applications. The VR/AR Laboratory for Industrial Applications in Shipbuilding and Shipboard Operations will establish a technology-rich, research-based, immersive instructional environment tailored to develop a diverse-rich STEM workforce at different levels including pre-college preparation, college (undergraduate and graduate), and professional development for shipbuilding and naval personnel. The proposed lab will expand NEMSI s successful initiatives to create real research experiences for undergraduate and graduate engineering students and excite students about career aspirations in the naval enterprise and marine industry. Active student engagement in these research areas will greatly enhance their learning experience and prepare students for summer internship, scholarship and professional career opportunities that exist through NREIP, Pathways, and SMART - which many students under NEMSI have achieved. The lab will serve to enhance the curriculum of courses and labs across BCET to impact a diverse student population, and will be used for direct STEM engagement initiatives targeting K-12 students and their teachers. Additionally, the lab will support ODU s highly effective initiatives targeting transitioning veterans that introduce veterans to STEM career opportunities in naval engineering and the ODU programs available to facilitate their success.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710374
Entities
People
- Jennifer Michaeli
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Old Dominion University