Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies for Aircraft Maintenance

For an enterprise wide implementation of VAM technologies to aircraft maintenance four areas of specific interest areas are:(1) Content Development. Content is defined as the computer generated visualizations for use in a VAM device. This information may be spatially registered to the physical environment or may be similar to a "billboard" of information or task list. A user would be totally immersed in (virtual) a training use case, or computer generated content could be overlaid onto real world views (augmented or mixed). Cost effective solutions for VAM content creation are needed across the Air Force enterprise. The sheer magnitude of aircraft preventive and remedial maintenance tasks will require innovative crowd sourcing of AR content development by airmen. The content must be able to be developed by non-programmers, and not be dependent on digital models of legacy aircraft systems(2) Content Approval and Management. Development of solutions for vetting and managing VAM content

are also needed. Ensuring that the latest technical data is used by airmen is just as critical when using VAM as other more traditional media. Methods and processes to vet VAM content will be critical in the application of this technology across the Air Force enterprise.(3) Open Modular Enterprise Solutions. With many potential use cases for VAM, the types of AR devices the Air Force will need is anticipated to be varied. A risk assessment will need to be done for each use case and the device deemed safest for that application should be selected. This includes physical safety of the maintainer and cybersecurity for Air Force computer networks and data. Any solution should be device agnostic and allow for the adsorption of new technical capabilities as they enter the market.(4) VAM Business Case. Each use case will have an associated monetary impact from application of VAM technologies. First time quality and process throughput are key metrics when describing the business case for additional implementations of VAM technologies.Contact Information: Scott Bryan, Project Engineer, Phone (937) 904-7082, Email Scott.bryan@us.af.mil Office Address :AFRL/RQK2130 Eighth Street, Building 45 Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 Location: AFRL/RQK - WPAFB Set Aside: N/A