IACMI-UT has made significant advances in Virtual Reality based education for composites manufacturing and alternative energy. The Oculus Go / Unity platform is used to convey highly realistic content for experiencing a range of manufacturing processes. The following contents have been enabled thus far (and still more to come)…
- Carbon fiber production
- Sheet molding compound (SMC)
- Long fiber thermoplastic
- Extrusion-compression molding
- Tooling and molds
- Pultrusion
- Roll forming
- Injection molding
- Extrusion
- Composites machining
- Case studies in tools and composites production
Each of these modules has hybrid content aided by video, powerpoint and lectures.
In late Summer 2022, the content has been expanded to include real 360 footage of the wind energy technology and range of composites manufacturing in the factory setting.
The wind VR goes into explanation by Derek Berry, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Wind Technology Area Director for IACMI-The Composites Institute. Berry provides detailed briefings on the wind tower, its components, role of composite materials, how they are used in the wind turbine blades, wind blade testing and the energy metrics. This is a powerful way to experience the field environment without being there.
For more information and access to training materials including licensing of the modules for your employees, please contact Dr. Uday Vaidya at uvaidya@utk.edu
