Thanks to VR glasses from FEL developers, you can safely command swarms of drones or train pyrotechnicians. These are not toys for their own sake, but technologies with a real impact on development and, in some cases, production.
Simulations of dangerous situations, smart ammunition models, or virtual work tools such as metal detectors or spectrometers, enabling the detection and identification of explosives.
These are the features of the system for training specialists in the detection and disposal of unexploded ordnance (EOD). FEL developers have prepared scenarios for training pyrotechnicians that are not static. Analysis of user behavior plays a significant role in them. The system monitors movement in the scene and evaluates whether the “player” has followed safety procedures.
“We want the training to not be based on simply memorizing the scenario, but for the user to have to think and react to new conditions, similar to real deployment,” explained David Sedláček, who heads the Virtual and Augmented Reality Laboratory.
An important part of the project is also training in working with robots for munitions disposal. Special EOD robots are expensive, and in practice there are only a limited number of them. The virtual environment therefore allows training in their control on a larger scale.
“It is not about learning one specific intervention, but understanding the entire process, how to identify ammunition, how to approach it safely and how to make a decision in a given situation,” explained Jiří Žára, head of the Department of Computer Graphics and Interaction at the Faculty of Engineering, who manages the EOD project.
This training system is interesting for the army. “It opens up space for wider use, for example in conjunction with 3D modeling, which can significantly facilitate training and understanding the functioning of individual types of ammunition,” said Lieutenant Colonel Martin Turek, Chief of the Technical and Information Support Center of the 15th Engineer Battalion. In the holographic command center
At the event, developers also presented the HOLO-Swarm augmented reality, which will allow for easier orientation and planning on the battlefield using special glasses. The existing technology for monitoring the situation in the field remains based on two-dimensional maps today.
Defence Research Day
Real impact – University research develops technologies that have a real impact. Whether in the field of defense, security, or critical infrastructure.
The State Armaments Plant VOP CZ – Faculty cooperates with the company on the development of advanced unmanned platforms designed for deployment in demanding conditions. This includes, for example, the modular multi-purpose wheeled robot TAROS 6×6.
“Classic maps are flat and limited in their functionality. We want to give the user a spatial view of the situation and the ability to work with it interactively,” explained David Sedláček.
Augmented reality goggles present a three-dimensional terrain model to staff planners. The system displays the movement of units, such as drone swarms, their planned routes, and their current status.
“The user can choose what data they want to monitor – from basic telemetry to detailed 3D reconstruction of the surroundings,” said Sedláček.
The technology allows for active intervention in control. The commander can enter new targets, adjust trajectories, or replan the mission and check how the changes will be reflected. A great advantage is the sharing of data between multiple users. The HOLO-Swarm project is being supported by QuaternAR, a company operating in the defense technology segment. Drones control the sky
However, similar technologies are not intended only for the military. “We also see their use in an integrated rescue system or in the protection of critical infrastructure, where it is necessary to quickly assess the situation and make decisions,” said Jiří Žára.
Autonomous drones represent another top discipline of developers from the FEL. The modern trend is their development with higher autonomy, faster response to changes in the environment and securing robotic platforms against takeover or misuse.
“The point is to perform operations independently of the infrastructure and without satellite navigation. They can perform autonomous reconnaissance, they are capable of deployment in extreme conditions,” explained Petr Štibinger from the Department of Multi-Robotic Systems at the FEL.
A swarm of drones can operate, for example, in a forest, maneuver between trees and hold a formation. On the ground, they can be supplemented as additional “eyes,” for example, by ground robots.