Enhance Engine Room Diagnostics Through Audio-Focused VR Simulation

Abstract

A marine engineer’s task is to maintain all systems in an operational state, to diagnose and rectify problems arising, and to understand what maintenance will be required to keep the vessel appropriately operational and safe. This capability is built upon the training and experience of the engineering crew, the information that can be gained by reading and interpreting engine room instrumentation, and the familiarity with the vessel and an in-situ intuitive feel for normal operation. In this paper, we examine how audio can enhance remote interaction and feedback information. We gathered real-world data from an engine room that allow us to create a realistic virtual engine room for testing. We carried out usability test on simulated failure scenarios where we look at how VR technology might enable engineers to experience immersive information from a remote location and allow them to diagnose and give feedback on the system. Our findings suggest that sound plays a vital role in identifying failures and could potentially be used in the operation of unmanned and autonomous vessels.