From Virtual to Augmented Reality Training System: An IC.IDO-Based Approach

This paper proposes a methodology to exploit virtual prototypes for the development of both VR and AR-based Training systems, with the same Software-Hardware architecture. This architecture provides a unique collaborative environment to enable the interaction between several users even if geographically distant, allowing to switch easily and rapidly between VR, AR and mixed technologies. The proposed Training Systems concern a simple but structured workcycle about the assembly of some Lego bricks. The selected development platform is IC.IDO: a commercial software with an industrial footprint, produced by ESI Group. Despite IC.IDO is originally designed for VR and not compatible for AR applications, it resulted fully compliant with the requisites of the proposed methodology. The paper firstly describes the path outlined from the conversion of a Training session from VR to AR compatible, within IC.IDO. Thanks to the adoption of a colour-filtering software as OBS Studio, the IC.IDO session easily becomes AR-compatible, using a unique hardware architecture: the HTC Vive Pro HMD and a VIVE tracker. In this work, also the Oculus Rift S has been employed for the VR applications to demonstrate the system’s compatibility with other VR devices. For both VIVE and Oculus, the Virtual Desktop feature allowed to display the OBS Desktop window in the HMD. Furthermore, an innovative solution is proposed: thanks to IC.IDO’s Cooperative Environment, trainer and trainee will cooperate within the same scene using simultaneously VR and AR. Finally, the role of the trainer is discussed, to outline a process of progressive independence for the trainee.