Cabin Crew Virtual Reality Training
Virtual reality training for the mandatory, sequenced training of the cabin crew.
Client
Lufthansa @ NMY
Role
Art Direction, UX / UI, Realtime Design, Interior Design
About the project
For Lufthansa Aviation Training, we developed a virtual reality training for the cabin crew. In separate VR cabins, up to nine flight attendants are taught in parallel how to search an aircraft for dangerous objects, while an operator monitors the training from a central station.
How it started
The project began with a detailed walk-through of the Airbus 340 aircraft to identify all critical areas and potential hiding places that needed to be searched. This walk-through was instrumental in shaping the concept for the application. It made it easier to identify the exceptions and details that needed to be considered to setup the training flow.
Key Learnings
A primary goal was to enhance the learning curve compared to traditional training in a real aircraft, while also managing costs. After extensive research, we implemented the repetition learning method. This approach allows flight attendants to first go through the search areas with an assistant and then perform the searches independently.
Prototyping Process
During the conception phase, we prioritized creating a user-friendly VR experience for novices. An interdisciplinary team developed various prototypes to test different approaches. From this process, we identified the need for Leap-Motion technology, a virtual assistant, and a simple input pattern to perform the searches.
Enhanced Usability
The application’s interface is designed with intuitive hand gestures that correspond to UI elements within the VR environment. Users can monitor their progress via a virtual watch on their wrist. Significant effort was put into creating a realistic aircraft interior to maintain high immersion levels, and extensive optimization was done to prevent framerate drops.
Control station
If a user encounters difficulties during a search, they can contact the operator at any time. The operator can assist through a live connection to the VR cabin and by viewing the user’s VR screen, providing real-time support in any situation.
Make it look good!
To complete the project, the space inside the Lufthansa Aviation Training building was redesigned.
