US Navy Tests Virtual Reality Trainer On Aircraft Carrier To Enhance Sailor Training

The United States Navy has taken a significant step forward in its training protocols, testing a virtual reality trainer on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier. This innovative technology, known as Virtual Bridge and Nautical Trainer (VIBRaNT), aims to enhance the training of sailors in ship navigation, handling, and situational awareness.

According to Forbes, the demonstration, hosted by the Office of Naval Research Global TechSolutions and the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, showcased the potential of VIBRaNT to revolutionize bridge team training. This portable system utilizes commercial-off-the-shelf extended reality hardware, integrating with industry-developed software and standard laptops, wireless routers, and headsets to create a realistic virtual bridge environment.

The technology allows crews to train in complex scenarios, including inclement weather, high-traffic areas, and force-protection exercises, without risking the actual warship or endangering the crew. As Amelia Kracinovich, Human Systems Integration scientist at NIWC Pacific, noted, “We can bring this on board as a mechanism to have better access for training, increasing the availability to train, and providing better situational awareness.” The USS Theodore Roosevelt demonstration highlighted the potential for bridge watch teams to practice “rules of the road” ← →