Inspiration
The Covid-19 pandemic has heavily affected learning with a majority of schools doing primaratively online learning. At Vaughn College laboratory classes had to be halted with many students having to make up the work the following semesters. We recreated a laboratory room in virtual reality to prevent further spread of the Covid-19 virus and its variants through in person contact in classrooms and to reduce possible injury due to hardware used during experimentation.
What it does
VR laboratory rooms will give students a space to learn how to use the lab equipment without the possibility of contracting Covid-19 allowing students to learn in the safety of their own homes. With covid-19 still active the VR laboratories would ensure that students will get a similar experience as an in person laboratory. VR Laboratory headsets can be reused for future laboratories and will be cleaned as to allow future students the use of the equipment. With the school charging a $50 laboratory fee to students each semester the headsets would be fully paid off after 6 semesters. The cost for these virtual classrooms would come from the VR Oculus Quest 2 Headsets. With the class size average being 14 students a class the price would be $1,500 buying 15 headsets (one extra as a spare) with each headset costing $300.
How we built it
Dimensions of an entire laboratory room were taken and recreated on SolidWorks. Once recreated the 3D model files were formatted and transferred to Unity 3D to be used in a virtual setting. Ideally, all the equipment will be recreated as well and tested using an actual VR set.
Challenges we ran into
On the weekends, school's campus closed very early, so access for lab was limited to recreate it. Engineering inexperience in terms of Unity 3D. Rough Deadlines.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
An entire actual lab room was recreated in 3D space with objects within it. Drone landing zone consistent of mats, working stations / tables. High quality render of final structure.
What we learned
Team learnt how to use Unity 3D and transform files from SolidWorks to be compatible with the software. Camera manipulation and cinemachine behavior were explored.
What's next for Virtual Lab Room
Equipment Inspection: Allowing students to view the 3D model of the equipment used in the lab that will give them information about each button or mechanism found on the machines their purpose.
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