1. Simulacrum: Simulated Virtual Reality for Emergency
Medical Intervention in Battle Field Conditions
Mert Ali GÖZCÜ – Nesil MEŞURHAN – Sedanur DOĞAN
Supervisor : Assist. Prof. Dr. Murat YILMAZ
Co-Advisor : Specialist Ulaş GÜLEÇ
Virtual Reality Research Laboratory, Cankaya University
Abstract
Emergence of virtual reality in the form of developing technology, human computer interaction produced by head-mounted display (HMD) becomes more important to produce innovative software products. The goal of this study is to create a Virtual Reality-Based Framework that has the purpose of training military personnel who works in a battlefield for medical intervention techniques. Ultimately, a virtualized system should create the notion of presence and immersion. “Simulacrum: Simulated Virtual Reality for Emergency
Medical Intervention in Battle Field Conditions” is a virtual reality training and simulation framework which is planned to operationalize on HTC Vive virtual reality system. Purpose of this project is to design “Immediate Medical Intervention During Combat” both as a standalone application and a VR system, which shall include realistic scenarios, by taking account of the experience gained by Turkish Armed Forces personnel and their inventories (e.g. tools, materials) that are used for medical intervention.
Key words: Virtual Reality, HTC Vive, Simulation and Training Framework, Medical Intervention in Battle Field Conditions
Company Info
General Staff of the Republic of Turkey controls and leads the Turkish Armed Forces and it is comprised by other military departments such as Army, Navy, Air and Special Forces. Gazi University Academic Emergency Department had informed project staff about medical intervention techniques.
Figure 2- Source code statistics
Solution
In order to provide training of first aid and medical intervention techniques without endangering users physical and psychological health. Simulacrum is a virtual reality simulation that contains military and medical concepts which is developed using Unity 3D. Virtual reality part of simulation is supported with HTC Vive and models in the simulation are modified in Blender 3D. Main programming language is C#. Code metrics are measured using Understand by SciTools.
Results & Conclusion
Developed simulation offers the training of medical intervention and first-aid techniques in a unique interactive way and has several advantages. One of the advantage of our project is to develop a product that can be repeatable often without wasting any resources. Therefore the product can be considered as cost effective. Also, even though the product is developed considering that it will be used with HTC Vive, it does not have any dependency on the HTC Vive and can be worked even if the HTC Vive is not connected to the computer but VR provides immersion and more interactive environment. All medical intervention and first- aid techniques are applied without any risk of injury.
Introduction
While the correct medical intervention that is applied within minutes to the injuries that are occurred during combat could be lifesaving, lateness of this active intervention could likely to result in death. We have aimed to decrease the rate of death and injuries during battlefield conditions by developing this simulation. Goal of the project is educating military personnel about medical intervention techniques using VR Technologies. We have used HTC Vive as VR Display and its controller for allowing participant to interact with object in the simulation. The purpose of using VR is for increasing the level of immersion.
Acknowledgement
We are grateful to anyone who helped us and especially Assist. Prof. Dr. Murat Yılmaz and Specialist Ulaş Güleç for their guidance.Guidance,we received from them was a great asset to improve this project and ourselves.We are thankful to Assoc. Prof. İsa Kılıçaslan for his help about evaluating medical intervention techniques. Demokan Aksoy who help us as a scenarist. We appreciate Col. Eng. Dr. Mustafa Dinç for his support and direction.
Figure 3 – Screenshot of Final Product
Figure 1 – Project Staff
Figure 4 – Working Companies