Virtalis - Consultancy, application development, hardware and software for virtual reality, simulation, and advanced visualisation. - Rolls Royce

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Rolls Royce

Rolls Royce - Trent 800 Engine

In 1992 Virtalis and Rolls-Royce conducted a short feasibility study to evaluate the rôle of VR in the future business of aero engine design, maintenance evaluation and advanced training. By 1994, the virtual Trent 800 model had reached a stage whereby usability trials could be carried out.Trial participants, wearing an HMD and CyberGlove, began interacting with simple virtual tools that allowed the users to release bolt and bracket fittings. Company directors, shop floor workers, CAD (“Digital Pre-Assembly”) engineers and trades unionists were all involved in the trials and postgraduate support for usability evaluation was sought from the Ergonomics Unit of University College, London. The comments and criticisms from the trials participants were invaluable. All were carefully noted and many have since been used to generate documents supporting (for example) best practice “design-for-VR” advice, or Immersive VR Health & Safety guidelines.