Nicolas Mollet

GVT: a platform to create virtual environments for procedural training

The use of virtual environments for training is strongly stimulated by important needs for training on sensitive equipments. Yet, developing such an application is often done without reusing existing components, which requires a huge amount of time. We present in this paper a full authoring platform to facilitate the development of both new virtual environments and pedagogical information for procedural training. This platform, named GVT (generic virtual training) relies on innovative models and provides authoring tools which allow capitalizing on the developments realized. We present a generic model named STORM, used to describe reusable behaviors for 3D objects and reusable interactions between those objects. We also present a scenario language named LORA which allows non computer scientists to author various and complex sequences of tasks in a virtual scene. Based on those models, as an industrial validation with Nexter-Group, more than fifty operational scenarios of maintenance training on military equipments have been realized so far. We have also set up an assessment campaign, and we expose in this paper the first results which show that GVT enables trainees to learn procedures efficiently. The platform keeps on evolving and training on collaborative procedures will soon be available.

Storytelling in virtual reality for training

We present in this paper researches focussed on training scenario specification. These researches are conducted in the context of a collaboration with Giat-Industries (a French military manufacturer) in order to introduce Virtual Reality(VR) in maintenance training. The use of VR environments for training is strongly stimulated by important needs of training on sensitive equipment, sometimes fragile, unavaiblable, costly or dangerous. Our project, named GVT, is developped in a research/Industry collaboration. A first version of GVT is already available as a final product, which allows maintenance virtual training on GIAT-Industries equipments. Internal models have been designed in order to achieve reusability and standardization for the efficient development of new virtual training environments. In particular, we defined a scenario language named LORA, which is both textual and graphical. This language lets non-computer scientists author various and complex tasks in a virtual scene.

Virtual environments for training: from individual learning to collaboration with humanoids

The next generation of virtual environments for training is oriented towards collaborative aspects. Therefore, we have decided to enhance our platform for virtual training environments, adding collaboration opportunities and integrating humanoids. In this paper we put forward a model of humanoid that suits both virtual humans and representations of real users, according to collaborative training activities. We suggest adaptations to the scenario model of our platform making it possible to write collaborative procedures. We introduce a mechanism of action selection made up of a global repartition and an individual choice. These models are currently being integrated and validated in GVT, a virtual training tool for maintenance of military equipments, developed in collaboration with the French company NEXTER-Group.

STORM: a Generic Interaction and Behavioral Model for 3D Objects and Humanoids in a Virtual Environment

We present in this paper research focused on interaction and behavior specification for 3D objects in general, including humanoids. This research is conducted in the context of a collaboration with Nexter-Group (a French military manufacturer) in order to introduce Virtual Reality (VR) in maintenance training. The use of VR environments for training is strongly stimulated by important needs of training on sensitive equipment, sometimes fragile, unavailable, costly or dangerous. Nevertheless, for the development of such applications, the re-use of existing developments is a major issue. Our research is focused on models that have been designed to achieve this reusability and standardization for the efficient development of new virtual environments. In particular, we defined a new generic model named STORM, used to describe reusable behaviors for 3D objects in general, including humanoids, and reusable interactions between those objects.

An operational VR platform for building virtual training environments

We present in this paper researches focused on specification and production of virtual training environments. The use of Virtual Environments (VE) for training is strongly stimulated by important needs of training on sensitive equipment. But the development of such applications is generally done in new projects, where the reusability of existing developments is a major issue. We present here a platform of development, based on internal models that have been designed to achieve this reusability and standardization for the efficient development of new virtual environments. We defined a new generic model named STORM, used to describe reusable behaviors for 3D objects and reusable interactions between those objects or with humans. We also defined a scenario language named LORA, which allow non-computer scientists author various and complex sequences of tasks in a virtual scene. Based on those models, as an industrial validation with Nexter-Group, we have created 20 operational scenarios of maintenance virtual training on military equipments. We are also begining to create collaborative environments, where virtual and real humans have to collaborate to achieve their procedures.