Group Project

Role: 3D Modeler
Platform: PC (VR)
Software: Unity, Blender
Genre: Serious VR Training Simulator

Project Overview

Hydrogen Bus Mechanic is a virtual reality (VR) training tool designed for bus mechanics, specifically those working with hydrogen fuel buses. The main purpose of the game is not to teach new concepts but to build the confidence of experienced mechanics in performing routine maintenance tasks, such as conducting a leakdown test. This VR training tool allows mechanics to practice tasks in a safe, controlled environment, enabling them to apply their existing knowledge without fear of making mistakes. The game has been designed to closely mirror real-world tasks, enhancing the realism and immersion to help users feel comfortable with the procedure before performing it in the field.

Objective

The objective of the Hydrogen Bus Mechanic VR training game is to help bus mechanics build confidence and proficiency in performing routine maintenance tasks on hydrogen fuel buses. The game allows users to practice real-world tasks, such as the leakdown test, in a safe, immersive virtual environment. The primary goal is to provide a tool that enables mechanics to gain hands-on experience without the pressure or risk of real-world mistakes, enhancing their skills and confidence for actual on-the-job scenarios.

Design Guidelines

The following design guidelines were essential to ensure the game was effective for its purpose—helping mechanics build confidence in their abilities while maintaining a realistic yet approachable VR experience:

• Allow Mistakes without Negative Consequences: The game is not about punishing errors but rather about learning from them. Players can perform maintenance tasks incorrectly, but the game should provide gentle feedback and corrective suggestions without scaring the user. This approach fosters a safe space for trial and error.

• Ground the Player in a Familiar Environment: To help players feel comfortable and focused, the game recreates a typical automotive service environment with recognizable items, such as tires, tools, and maintenance machines. The visual environment is designed to feel as close to a real workshop as possible, aiding the player’s mental transition into the task.

• Clear and Immediate Feedback: As the user interacts with the bus and its systems, the game visually informs them of their actions. For example, if a mechanic opens a valve or checks a system, the game will show corresponding visual indicators (e.g., the fuel system’s pressure reading). This reinforces learning and helps players understand whether they are performing the steps correctly.

• Task List with Guided Instructions: The game provides a clear list of tasks to work through, ensuring that players know what they need to do next. The tasks are sequential, building from simple to more complex actions, which is important for confidence building.

• Intuitive Controls and Simplified Interactions: Mechanics are likely not familiar with VR interfaces, so the controls are kept as simple as possible. Actions like tightening screws or turning valves are simplified by requiring the player to touch or interact with an object in a specific way rather than focusing on precision movements, which could be frustrating for beginners.

• Focused on Real-World Relevance: The gameplay is grounded in real-world tasks. For instance, the game simulates the hydrogen bus leakdown test, a routine maintenance procedure. This ensures that mechanics are training on tasks they will actually perform, improving the transfer of skills to the real world.

Pains & Gains

Pains (Challenges & Frustrations):

• Adapting to VR: The target audience—automotive service mechanics—likely have some experience with virtual worlds, but many have limited or no experience with VR. This posed a challenge in ensuring the interactions in the game are intuitive and easy to understand, requiring careful design choices in terms of controls and user interactions.

• Immersion vs. Simplification: While realism was important, it had to be balanced with ease of interaction. For instance, tasks like inserting screws or turning knobs had to be simplified for VR, which could risk compromising the sense of immersion if not executed carefully.

• VR Hardware Limitations: The physical nature of VR can sometimes create discomfort, especially for users unfamiliar with VR headsets or controllers. The project had to ensure that the game was comfortable to play, with minimal risk of nausea or fatigue during training sessions.

• Accuracy in Simulation: Recreating a realistic, detailed environment, including the hydrogen bus and specific tools, required meticulous attention to detail. Ensuring the simulations were accurate while still simplifying certain tasks to accommodate the user's lack of VR experience was a significant challenge.

Gains (Desired Outcomes & Success):

• Confidence Building: The primary success of the project is to help mechanics build confidence in performing routine maintenance tasks. By allowing them to practice tasks like the leakdown test in a virtual environment, players gain the reassurance they need to perform these actions in real-life settings.

• Real-World Relevance: The game is directly based on real-world tasks, ensuring that the training is immediately applicable and relevant to the players’ day-to-day work. This practicality helps engage users by offering realistic and purposeful scenarios that match their professional needs.

• Safe Learning Environment: By offering a virtual environment, the game removes the risks of making mistakes in real-world scenarios, providing a platform where players can learn from their errors without consequence.

• Improved Engagement: VR training is more engaging than traditional methods, potentially making the learning process more interesting and less tedious for mechanics, particularly in a field where practical experience is key.

• Future Expansion: The game’s design allows for easy future expansion. Additional training scenarios can be added to provide a broader range of maintenance tasks and skill levels, catering to both beginner and experienced mechanics.

Behavioral Patterns for User Interface Design

To enhance usability and ensure the game provides an effective training environment, the following behavioral patterns were incorporated into the UI and interaction design:

• Clear Task and Progress Tracking: The game uses a straightforward task list that guides the player through each step. Tasks are marked as completed as the user progresses, providing both a sense of achievement and a way to track their progress.

• Visual and Auditory Feedback: The game provides immediate feedback when players interact with various elements. This includes visual cues (e.g., pressure gauge readings, valve positions) and auditory feedback (e.g., sound of valves opening or closing). These cues help reinforce learning and ensure players understand the impact of their actions.

• Hand Gesture Recognition: Since the target audience is not experienced in VR, interactions are designed to be intuitive. Hand gestures are mapped to realistic actions, such as picking up tools, turning valves, and pressing buttons. These actions are made seamless to avoid confusing the player.

• Contextual Help and Hints: For players unfamiliar with certain tasks or actions, the game provides contextual hints and instructions. For example, if a player gets stuck during a task, the game may highlight the object they need to interact with or show a visual cue to indicate the next step.

• Error Tolerance: The game design includes mechanisms for allowing players to make mistakes without harsh penalties. If a mechanic performs a task incorrectly (e.g., failing to check the pressure), the game gently informs them of the mistake and allows them to try again without negative consequences. This builds confidence rather than discouragement.