Update Augmented Reality for Render Safe Procedures in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Community

By Marlo Brooke-Colchester, President, AVATAR Partners Inc. (January 24, 2017)

AVATAR Partners Inc. (API) recently analyzed the opportunity for Augmented Reality to address requirements for the multi-service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Community. Augmented Reality, also known as Mixed Reality, provides the user with access to data via a semi-transparent heads-up display or tablet. The hardware device can be flexible depending on the situation. In fact, it can be designed to support underseas operations, improvised explosive devices (IED) or improvised nuclear devices (IND). Augmented Reality showed great promise to allow the EOD Technician the opportunity to practice critical render safe procedures from the safety of their spaces. At the 2015 Global EOD Symposium, the Commanding Officer of Naval Surface Warfare Center (NWSC) Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (IHEODTD) presented the slide shown in Figure 8, which calls for improved information on demand at the point of need.

EOD Demand of Improved Information Access

Figure 1. EOD Demand of Improved Information Access

In response to this requirement, API developed a Job Performance Aid Prototype for the Explosive Remote Opening Device (EXROD) that integrates the best features of an Interactive Electronic Technical Publication (IETP), an Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI – Video/Model Based Instruction) and Augmented Reality. This system shown in Figures 2 and 3, is designed to provide this information at the point of need on any device to improve both training and operational effectiveness.

Explosive Remote Opening Device (EXROD) Job Performance Aid with Augmented Reality

Figure 2.   Explosive Remote Opening Device (EXROD) Job Performance Aid with Augmented Reality

Explosive Remote Opening Device (EXROD) Augmented Reality Placement Tool

Figure 3. Explosive Remote Opening Device (EXROD) Augmented Reality Placement Tool

One of the hindrances to adopting this type of technology has been the lack of quantifiable data as to the effectiveness of these types of technologies. By developing a Naval Training Effectiveness Tool, API will have the ability to evaluate the same types of technologies for the EOD community and provide quantifiable effectiveness data to the IHEODTD Material Technology Advisory Board (MTAB).

Marlo Brooke-Colchester (mbrooke@avatarpartners.com) is founder and president of Avatar Partners Inc. (API) (avatarpartners.com), a woman-owned small business specializing in training solutions for the US Military. She can be reached at (714) 226-1909.