SYSTEMS AND METHODS PROVIDING ENHANCED EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN A VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT

• US 20140220522A1
• Filed: 04/09/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peters, Carl, Postlethwaite, Deanna, Wallace, Matthew Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 10,249,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/234
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/095 Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/24 Use of tools
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

Virtual reality arc welding systems that provide virtual reality simulations for training purposes. Virtual reality welding systems to aid in training welding students may provide a programmable processor-based subsystem, a rendering engine, an analysis engine, and recommended corrective actions based on virtual testing results.

Claims

1. A virtual reality welding system, comprising:

a programmable processor-based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions, the coded instructions including;

a rendering engine configured to generate a three-dimensional (3D) rendering of a virtual weldment created by a user on the virtual reality welding system;

an analysis engine configured to perform simulated testing of the 3D virtual weldment and generate corresponding test data; and

at least one intelligent agent (IA) configured to generate recommended corrective actions for the user, based on at least the test data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the recommended corrective actions include welding techniques of the user to be changed.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the recommended corrective actions include training materials stored on the virtual reality welding system to be reviewed by the user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the recommended corrective actions include a customized training project to be completed by the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the recommended corrective actions include a setup of the virtual reality welding system to be changed by the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis engine performs a simulated bend test on the 3D rendering of the virtual weldment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis engine performs a simulated pull test on the 3D rendering of the virtual weldment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis engine performs a simulated break test on the 3D rendering of the virtual weldment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis engine performs a simulated impact test on the 3D rendering of the virtual weldment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis engine performs a simulated hardness test on the 3D rendering of the virtual weldment.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the recommended corrective actions are presented to the user on a display device of the virtual reality welding system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to interface to a printer device and print the recommended corrective actions for the user.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to store and display welding procedure specifications and blueprints with welding symbols.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to track progress of the user as the user progresses through a training program using the system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes means for the user to identify himself to the system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for the user to identify himself includes scanning a user badge or identification card.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for the user to identify himself includes biometric scanning of the user.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for the user to identify himself includes a manual entry of a user identification number.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the system recalls from memory a section of the training program that the user last initiated.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the section of the training program is a welding setup of the system.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the section of the training program is a virtual weld that the user last created.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the system allows the user to recall and display a history of completed procedures and modules.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the system separately tracks and recalls progress of each separate user.