Maintenance Next (MXN) is a US Air Force Training facility located in Texas that is advancing their training procedures through the use of virtual and augmented reality training modules for training airmen at the schoolhouse.
This project was a part of the work requested within Ario's phase I and phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) with the US Air Force and AFWERX—a 1.7 million dollar contract with Maintenance Next (MXN).
MXN needed various AR-enabled training modules to quiz airmen on their knowledge of various F-16 equipment prior to them interacting with physical objects. The quizzes focused on halon tanks, AGEs, Tool trainers, and various other F-16 components.
Product design, prototype, and develop functionality for the Ario platform, 3D asset creation and optimization with PBR textures optimized for AR, and photogrammetry solutions in order to support the needs of the project.
Create a quiz creator functionality to the Ario platform tested by SMEs, instructors and airmen. Work with SMEs and instructors to create modules that align with the needs of the courses to include 3D models with contextual callouts and highlights.
Describe the process of working with SMEs and Instructors to learn what courses they would like to focus on as well as what steps are involved for creating the maintenance procedures in order to create the step-by-step workflows on Ario Portal.
Secondly, I'll need to describe how we created 3D models for visual/spatial context to the scale of the components that the Airmen will need in order to provide context on a step-by-step basis. Below are some examples of 3D content that was created. We ended out creating more than 50 models in order to support the training modules for this project.
The content for these modules where a combination of 2D illustrations and 3D models with various portions highlighted for context.
Describe how the course ware was an added feature to Ario in order to support the needs of the project. Courses within Ario are training that provide users with multiple choice questions providing a 3D model or image that is featured along with the question. Users are able to view the questions either in 2D or in augmented reality which the question and answers persist overlayed over the augmented reality scene.
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In total, 30 comprehensive courses were developed, encompassing over 60 3D models and variations, to support the training initiative. Additionally, four new features were incorporated into the Ario platform to enhance its capabilities.
The outcomes of this project were exceptional. With the successful implementation of AR-enabled training, more than 100 participating Airmen at Maintenance Next benefitted from an improved classroom training experience. The initiative has not only modernized the training curriculum but has also optimized the learning process for Airmen, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of F-16 equipment and components before hands-on interactions.
Overall, this collaboration with MXN and Ario has been a resounding success, demonstrating the power of augmented reality in transforming traditional training methods. The advancements made during this project will undoubtedly pave the way for more innovative and effective training practices for the US Air Force in the future.
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