Gangway VR Simulator for ExxonMobil

We are very proud to announce that we recently delivered a customized version of our gangway training simulator to ExxonMobil. The simulator will be used to train gangway operators in relation to a decommissioning project offshore Santa Barbara in California, USA.

The simulator features three landing installations and location specific wave spectrums to make the training as realistic and close to the actual operation as possible. The gangway is mounted on a crew transfer vessel. ExxonMobil takes safety very seriously, and recognizes that simulator training will significantly reduce risk of injury and damage to both personnel, equipment and landing installations.

Our training simulators are portable, which enables operators to execute training on-board their vessel. This leads to increased training volume, which in turn leads to more skilled operators.

Read more about our gangway simulator here.

Simulator training at home

Virtual Reality (VR) training simulators opens a new way of how we train together digitally. VR simulators on laptops are today as powerful as traditional solutions, and with internet connection you can invite an entire crew to the virtual bridge and train together. Even the instructor can join and participate.

Morild Interaktiv have developed a series of training simulators for the maritime industry – both conventional installations and VR simulators. In 2018 we delivered a state of the art 360 degrees full mission ship bridge simulator to Rolls-Royce Marine, located at the Norwegian Maritime Competence Center (NMK) in Aalesund, Norway. Today we deliver the same simulator on a laptop using VR technology. The cost difference in both acquisition and operation is dramatic. Another benefit with the VR versions is that it is portable, enabling you to take training anywhere in the world.

One of the main advantages with our VR simulators is that you and your colleagues can team up and interact as if you were together on the same location. All you need is a laptop and internet connection. By using VR headset you can see and talk to your crew and work together to execute and complete scenarios. All actions can be recorded for playback and evaluation later on.

This also significantly reduce travel expenses by bringing employees and instructors together in a virtual environment. With fully immersive training, personnel can also learn faster and better, and retain processes with a hands-on approach - helping to greatly reduce the likelihood of future mistakes.

Technology makes it now possible to get better training at a significantly lower cost, and VR plays an essential role when we now are moving from physical to virtual training simulators.

We are more than happy to demonstrate our training simulators – get in touch and let us setup a Skype meeting.

Disruptive shift in training simulator technology

Two training simulators that we have delivered, both have the same exact software, features & functionality

The rapid adaptation of new technology and development of portable equipment seems to be a game changer in training simulator technology. Now major players as Volkswagen and Lockheed Martin are using Virtual Reality (VR) simulators in training to cut cost and provide better training.

Morild Interaktiv have developed training simulators for the maritime industry since 2012. In 2018 the company delivered a state of the art 360 degrees full mission bridge simulator to Rolls-Royce Marine, located at the Norwegian Maritime Competence Center in Aalesund, Norway. Today we deliver the same simulator on a laptop using VR technology. The cost difference in both acquisition and operation is dramatic.

Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles) conducted multiple VR training pilots, including for the front-end assembly of the T6 Multivan. In this specific case, Volkswagen found the potential of reducing training time by 50 percent, in comparison to conventional on-the-job training. The pilot also revealed that applying VR can reduce training cost with as much as one third.

Lockheed Martin are using VR building products virtually versus physical builds and testing. In addition to reduced initial design cost, the company has also saved $500,000 on travel expenses by enabling distributed employees to collaborate virtually.

VR simulators also provide significant savings in travel expenses by bringing employees and trainers together in virtual environments. You don’t have to shut down production to facilitate training on the equipment – saving potentially millions of dollars in lost production.

VR training helps alleviate language barriers across global workforces, eliminating the need for translators and numerous iterations of multilingual training materials. With fully immersive training, personnel can learn faster and better, and retain processes with a hands-on approach, helping to greatly reduce the likelihood of future mistakes.

Technology makes it possible to get better training at a significantly lower cost, and VR plays an essential role when we now are moving from physical to virtual training simulators.

With our experience building some of the worlds most complex state of the art conventional training simulators, we are certain that we have translated all aspects to our VR training simulators without compromise. We are currently conducting a study together with the Arctic University of Tromsø (UiT) and Arcos training centre, to find the effect of VR in lifeboat training compared to conventional training. We will keep you posted on the results!

Age is just a number

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Video - click image above to watch

Operating any piece of equipment has a learning curve. This is easy to forget in our daily life while interacting and operating everyday items such as door handles, light switches, a computer mouse and driving our car. These are just a few examples, and we operate all these things without even thinking about it.

When entering a virtual world using hand controllers for interaction, we are reminded about this fact. Operating the same equipment suddenly becomes more challenging. Our job, as developers of VR training simulators, is to make this transition from real life to virtual as smooth and seamless as possible. This has not been an easy task, and it has taken us thousands of man hours to get to where we are today with our physics based VR interaction engine.

As a company, we have technology and gaming in our DNA. We depend on customer feedback and extensive testing on people in different age groups and with different backgrounds. The most rewarding experience so far, has been to watch people from age 8 to 70 testing our VR simulators (see video above).

The project has given us invaluable feedback, and one of the things we found is that age isn't necessarily a factor when using VR simulators - this was a huge surprise to us! Maybe this proves that age is just a number after all?

Read more about physics based VR hand interaction engine here.

Full steam ahead towards a new year

Major updates to our website

What a year 2019 has been for us and our customers! Never before have we delivered so many new simulators and done so much incredible development work on our Morild SimVis platform. All thanks to our customers who value excellence.

The past 6 months we have really fine-tuned our platform. We have achieved even more stunning realism and created a new physics based VR interaction engine that makes complex hand and finger interaction natural and intuitive. Our VR training simulators have never felt better. Click her to read more.

New functionality enables unlimited number of users to train together in the same scenario. This is achieved using avatars, enabling the user to see and talk with other participants in the training exercise. And the best part - they can be situated all around the world and join the same scenario. The solution scales very well to complex scenarios.

To round off the year in a proper manner we are now also launching a range of VR training simualtors for the maritime industry. Discover our training simulators for Lifeboat, Ship Bridge, Ice Navigation, Gangway and our Scenario Builder. All purpose made for VR and delivered on a laptop – so you can train anywhere at anytime, even on site or on board a vessel. Together with our product range we also launch a new subscription model for training simulators. Check out our price and subscriptions page to find out more!

Thanks to all our clients, partners and followers for an amazing year. We are excited and look forward to 2020 - but first, a nice Christmas holiday with family and loved ones.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Morild Navigator – Next generation bridge simulator

Video - click on image above to play

We are excited to present Morild Navigator, the next generation bridge simulator based on VR-technology.

Morild Interaktiv launched the world’s first VR bridge simulator back in 2013. Now we present the next generation which allows you to train ship navigation wherever and whenever you want. In addition, you can collaborate with you colleagues on the same bridge - even if he or she is located on the other side of the world.

Multi-user remote avatars with voice communication

Morild Navigator is a full mission bridge simulator based on VR technology. Unlimited number of users can train together in the same scenario, on the same or on different vessels. This is done using avatars – enabling you to see and talk with other participants in the training exercise. And the best part – they can be situated all around the world and join you in the same scenario. The solution scales very well to complex scenarios with many vesels and participants.

The key to making the best VR trainings simulators is dedication to interaction. We have developed our own VR interaction engine which makes hand interaction natural to the end user, enabling them to focus on the training exercise instead of operating the training simulator (read more about this here). Morild Navigator provides advanced physics based hand interaction which enables you to operate the fully virtual bridge consisting of joysticks, handles, buttons, radio, searchlight panel and much much more.

Interactive virtual touch-screen displays

We also present a new innovation in Morild Navigator – interactive virtual touch-screen displays. This functionality is used for the ECDIS, radar and conning applications on the bridge, and provides easy and accessible handling. And, since the bridge is virtual, we can integrate any 3rd party application of your choice on the virtual tocuh-screen displays. This is another component that opens up a whole range of new possibilities.

Morild Navigator also features a new ocean system with advanced spectrum simulation. This provides stunning visualisation and realistic vessel behaviour. The system features both JONSWAP and Pierson-Moskowitz Spectrums.

Morild Builder, instructor station and scenario builder

An integral part of Morild Navigator is the Morild Builder instructor station and scenario builder. With the Morild Builder you can create, control and manipulate complex scenarios in realtime. The application is also used as instructor station during scenario training, and for playback analysis in debriefing. It can also be used as a tool to plan operations, and it features realtime weather and sea state parameters, daylight system, advanced voyage route editing and much much more. We can deliver any geospecific location of your choice for your scenarios.

Morild Navigator is developed in close co-operation with nautical universities and experienced ship captains. It can be delivered both as a mobile or stationary solution, and since the hardware cost is low, it is cost-effective to scale up for complex scenarios with multiple users and vessels.

Morild Navigator can also be delivered as custom solution with your specific vessel, bridge and handling equipment.

For more information and a demonstration – don’t hesitate to contact us 😊

Interaction - the key to VR training simulators

Many have tried simulators based on VR-technology, and more than a few have struggled more with the technology than the training scenario itself. To address this, Morild Interaktiv has developed a new physics based VR interaction engine that makes complex hand and finger interaction natural and intuitive to the end user.

High precision finger object interaction in Morild SimVis 3.0

Physical handling equipment and advanced simulation models has traditionally been the main focus in conventional training simulators. With the introduction of Virtual Reality (VR) there are new opportunities regarding cost-effectiveness and mobility, but also challenges. The display platform of VR is very engaging and immersive, and generates a lot of enthusiasm. However, this is not enough to provide a complete and good training simulator. As with any new technology many approaches have been tried in order to get the optimal result, for example combining physical handling equipment with VR (ie. replacing the traditional display medium with VR). In our experience, having VR training systems in operation for the past 8 years, this is not the optimal approach.

Operating virtual equipment in VR in Morild SimVis 3.0

Our conclusion is that a 100% virtual world is the overall ideal solution. We have therefore developed our own VR interaction engine, which makes interaction natural to the end user, enabling them to focus on the training exercise instead of operating the training simulator. This has proven to be a huge success!

Imagine a scenario where there are two training candidates, one is a playstation generation expert and the other an expert in the subject matter for the training exercise. If the training simulator is any good, the execution of the training scenario should reflect the experience and competence of the training candidates, not their competence and experience with computers and games. Our new VR interaction engine use hand and finger interaction with equipment and objects. There are many different aspects in order to emulate hand and finger interaction in VR, and subtle nuances to get it to "feel" natural. We are confident that we have achieved this, and that it will be a game changer in VR training simulators.

Handling object in VR with two hands in Morild SimVis 3.0

Through the process of developing our VR interaction engine, we have also realized that this opens up possibilities for training simulators in completely new areas, where this has not been practical or economically viable before. So Keep following us for more news on our upcoming next generation VR training simulators.

Demonstration of physics based hand interaction in Virtual Reality (VR), showcasing the capabilities the new Morild SimVis 3.0 VR interaction engine .

Video capture from Morild SimVis 3.0 VR interaction engine, showing our VR interaction test scene.

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The Morild SimVis 3.0 interaction engine will work with any hand controllers, gloves or hand tracking solutions. We have developed an automatic real time system for accurately assigning finger positions onto objects that the user grabs hold of, making it extremely fast and easy to introduce new interactive objects in a scene - no need for pre-defined target finger positions on objects.

The Arctic University of Norway chooses Morild Ice Simulator

Morild Ice VR-simulator has been preferred by the northern most university in Norway for ice navigation training. The University of Tromsø (UiT) has nearly 20.000 students and is recognised to deliver cutting-edge knowledge on arctic environment, safety and digital competence in education.

Morild Interaktiv is proud to collaborate with the highly competent nautical team at UiT. They strive for technological solutions that promote broad and inclusive social development and a diverse business development in the north. Technology which solves challenges related to health, the external environment and safety and operations in Arctic regions.

Students and the research society at UiT will use Morild Ice simulator for navigation training in polar waters, navigation at night, communication between ice breaker and vessel, and to evaluate ice concentration in specific areas. The simulator is equipped with a fully functional bridge for manoeuvring including ice radar, and will also enable UiT to explore the use of VR in simulation and visualisation as a part of their ongoing research.

The background for the co-operation between Morild Interaktiv and UiT is the increased shipping traffic in polar areas, which demands training of crew members to handle navigation in ice. Minimum requirements for the training and qualifications of deck officers on ships operating in polar waters has also become mandatory.

Morild Ice is a high quality cost-effective training solution based on VR technology which results in low hardware cost and high mobility. In other words – you can do training at any location.

Interested in more information on how we tailor mobile VR training simulators to your business? Please contact us!

The Morild IceNav VR simulator sets the standard for Polar Code navigation training. Please contact us at info@morildinteraktiv.no for a demo

Video capture from Ice Navigation VR simulator. Click video above to play.

NRK reportasje som omhandler bruken av VR teknologi i utdanningen og samarbeidet mellom Morild Interaktiv og avdeling for nautikk ved Universitetet i Tromsø (Norges arktiske universitet).

Story about our VR simulators in Norwegian National Television (NRK). Click video above to play.

Learning by doing

It is a fact that learning by doing is the most effective way to learn new procedures. This has R. Stahl Tranberg, a major supplier of helideck illumination systems, acknowledged and developed a stunning VR simulator for assembly of helideck lightning.

Together with R. Stahl Tranberg Morild Interaktiv have developed a mobile VR-simulator tailored for installation guidance of helideck lightning. The Helideck system from R. Stahl Tranberg includes, Circle & H, illuminated windsocks, flood-, perimeter-, status- and obstruction lights and control systems. The simulator allows you to familiarize with the products, assemble and control lights on a platform.

It is a growing trend in using VR-simulator technology as a manual for assembly and operation. R. Stahl Tranberg have operators in all corners of the world, and a mobile VR-simulator is a perfect tool to demonstrate how products are assembled and operated. In addition, it is perfect for sales and demonstration.

The VR simulator gives the user a full 360 degree view which make assembly of the helideck system extremely realistic. In addition, you can pick up and study each component in exploded view. The instructor can change sea state, visibility and toggle between day and night modes, and make you experience how the lights work from a helicopter – which also adds to the realism. All done by using an app on cell phone.

Morild Interaktiv is proud to co-operate with R. Stahl Tranberg. Since the company was established in 1901 in Stavanger, Norway - the TRANBERG name have been associated with quality. Through most of its 115 years of operation, the company has been challenged by the Norwegian ship building industry to develop and manufacture durable electro-mechanical products for marine applications. As the oil and gas industry built up its activity in the North Sea in the 70’s TRANBERG became an active partner for this industry and developed a wide range of electro-mechanical products for use in hazardous areas (Ex-products). 

Today R. Stahl Tranberg AS is a part of R. Stahl group, a leading supplier of products, systems and services for explosion protection and system safety worldwide. The company has decades of experience and offers explosion protection and safety technology in all forms, be it LED lighting, control boxes, signalling devices or monitoring equipment. 

The VR-helideck simulator was first launched at the Nor-shipping exhibit in June.

VR familiarization of offshore helideck and lighting system setup and installation

Video capture from VR simulator. Click video above to play.