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Technical Report: Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) Technology

James (Jeongju Park)

ENGL 221: Technical Report Writing

Professor Stephanie Gooding

Date
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Abstract

Aircraft manufacturers are developing and implementing automation technologies on

their aircraft due to the heavy workloads placed on pilots. The autopilot system was the first

automation system application. Unaided Aeroplan navigation is possible with the aid of an

autopilot. Additional technologies can help in aviation and virtual reality (VR), and augmented

reality is the technology to look at. (AR) Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)

emerge from science fiction books and the real world. These technologies are altering modern

life, from entertainment to purchasing. The aviation sector is not immune to these modifications,

and these technologies hold a lot of promise for the sector as a whole. This system was invented

by developing a visually coupled Airborne system simulator (VCASS) which was later adopted

by various airlines to ease navigation in the industry. This research on behalf of Brahmins

aviation company will look at the AR/VR technology and why it should be used.

Keywords: AV/VR technology, Qantas, simulator, navigation

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Contents

Abstract......................................................................................................................................................2
Contents.....................................................................................................................................................3
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................4
Company Background and Goal..............................................................................................................5
Virtual Reality Vs. Augmented Reality....................................................................................................5
Implementation of VR/AR in the aviation industry................................................................................6
Reason to Use AR/VR Technology...........................................................................................................7
Conclusions................................................................................................................................................9
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................................10
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Introduction

With businesses like Google, Microsoft, and Samsung raising the traditionally reserved

technology for technology fanatics into people's everyday lives, virtual reality has made its way

into widespread use. This essay focuses on the aviation industry and how it has performed so far

in its attempts to use virtual reality, one of the many diverse sections of society that uses the

technology. Virtual reality is evolving and improving due to the rapid advancement of

technology, and there are more and more potential uses for it. Airlines of today are constantly

seeking methods to increase their competitiveness and enhance the travel experience for

passengers. Many individuals are dabbling in AR and VR to achieve their aims. Airlines are

utilizing these technologies to enhance the passenger experience, enhance real-time information

access, and streamline flight operations.

Ivan Sutherland pioneered the idea that virtual reality can be more than just staring at a

screen when he said, "The ultimate display would, of course, be a room inside which the

computer can regulate the presence of matter. Sitting in a chair on exhibit in such a space would

be comfortable. A bullet in such a setting would be lethal, and handcuffs displayed there would

be stifling (Sutherland, 1968). The phrase "immersion," which can be applied in two ways—

physically and mentally—is the fundamental conclusion drawn from these quotes. Physical

immersion refers to the artificial sensory stimulation technology provides, whereas mental

immersion refers to the communicated sensation of engagement and involvement. Physical

immersion is the secret to elevating VR above other media experiences in terms of immersion,

whereas mental immersion has been the main focus of traditional media.
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Through body positioning, VR users can change their viewpoint and impact the virtual

environment, which helps people believe the virtual world is real. Sensory feedback,

accomplished using various technological tools, is essential for this outcome.

Company Background and Goal

Australia's greatest domestic and international airline, Qantas, was established in the

outback of Queensland in 1920. The most well-known long-distance airline in the world and one

of Australia's most recognizable trademarks is Qantas, originally registered as the Queensland

and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited (QANTAS) (Baxter et al., 2018). We have a

solid reputation for being top-notch in engineering, maintenance, safety, and customer service.

Transporting customers using the two complementary airline brands, Qantas and Jetstar,

is the Qantas Group's primary activity. We offer regional, domestic, and worldwide services

through our airline brands. Qantas Freight Enterprises and Qantas Frequent Flyer are only two of

the Group's many affiliate companies.

Virtual Reality Vs. Augmented Reality

Understanding the differences between the two concepts is crucial because, albeit to

varying degrees, both technologies affect how people perceive their surroundings.

The purpose of virtual reality is to give the user the impression that they are somewhere

else. Virtual reality isolates the user from their surroundings and takes them—at least virtually—

somewhere else. Virtual reality devices include wrap-around goggles or closed visors. The

wearer feels as though they are somewhere else experiencing something in real time because

they cannot see or, in some situations, hear what is happening around them. It's different from

augmented reality. AR does not obstruct the present. Instead, it enriches how that person

experiences their environment. One example of AR technology is clear visors that provide
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information to the wearer without obstructing their vision. Another example of AR is smart

eyewear. These give users a visual interface or virtual display to still take in their surroundings.

The user has greater freedom with AR, but the experience is less immersive.

Implementation of VR/AR in the aviation industry

The next phase is to gain an overview of how the airline industry has utilized VR

technology thus far, being motivated by either the element of safety or an economic incentive.

The two most important drivers of the airline sector have now been investigated. A segment

definition is required to form an overview when addressing the adoption of VR in the airline

business (Piekarski & Thomas, 2004). The segment definition in this section will be based on

how VR is applied in the form of an on-board segment, which is further broken down into

subsegments regarding in-flight entertainment and flight deck/cabin systems, and an off-board

segment, which includes pre-flight service, marketing maintenance, and training processes.

a) On-board applications

Passenger, pilots, and crew applications of VR are described as on-board jobs.

Consequently, those involved in aerial aircraft activities.

b) In-flight entertainment

Airlines must use in-flight entertainment to differentiate themselves and their offerings in

a market that is becoming increasingly competitive.

Airlines place a high value on in-flight entertainment when purchasing tickets; some

estimates place it second only to seating and legroom, showing a market for high-quality in-

flight entertainment. The condition of the growth of cabin design, which aims to fit more and
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more passenger seats while sacrificing personal space inside the cabin, increases the significance

of in-flight entertainment (Williamson et al., 2019).

Implementing in-flight entertainment for passengers makes use of this advancement and a

relatively high level of maturation. For some time now, airlines have used VR for in-flight

entertainment, some more actively than others. Qantas was the first airline to use VR in the

cabin. In 2015, Qantas teamed up with Samsung to give first-class passengers not only movies as

traditional entertainment but also sights and attractions from network destinations.

Reason to Use AR/VR Technology

With access to real-time information and more data while on the job, augmented reality

technology has the potential to give airline workers more control over their work. For instance,

the "world's best" airport, Changi Airport in Singapore, has lately started employing AR glasses

for its grounds staff. With these smart glasses, ground staff can rapidly and safely load

aeroplanes by scanning QR codes on cargo and baggage containers and viewing instant

information about the cargo (McGill & Brewster, 2019). The baggage handlers can more rapidly

and safely load the aeroplane to balance the load by knowing the weight of a piece of luggage

immediately.

The system is important in various ways like aircraft inspection, cabin crew training, flight

deck training, in-flight entertainment and aircraft maintenance, hence making it suitable.

a) Cabin crew training: Cabin crew can learn how to handle challenging real-life events like

medical emergencies, an impending crash, or hijacking through a virtual environment by

replacing classroom training with VR training.

Cabin crew members can make mistakes in virtual training and learn from them thanks to

immersive VR technology, which directly improves on-the-job performance.

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b) Aircraft inspection training: Airlines and ground handlers can learn and improve

aeroplane inspection skills in a secure environment using virtual reality training. To

completely minimize the possibility of a failure during operation, Virtual Reality (VR)

for Aircraft Inspection offers training on diverse situations of aircraft inspection on all

types of aircraft. The headset places teams on a visual airside. It enables them to interact

with virtual aircraft replicas and perform a visual inspection of a virtual aircraft in a cargo

bay or on an apron.

c) Flight deck instruction: The crew consists of the co-pilot and the pilot seated in the

aircraft's cockpit. The virtual reality part-task trainers assist in acquainting the flight deck

crew with the cockpit and educating them on the skills required to react swiftly and

manage even the most challenging situations. Pilots can become familiar with the cockpit

controls and various scenarios they might encounter while flying by using a virtual

environment and head-mounted displays (HMDs).

d) In-flight entertainment: Airlines like Qantas and Lufthansa are now utilizing virtual

reality to provide passengers with immersive entertainment, thanks to the technology's

continued growth and advancements. People frequently experience discomfort while

flying due to other passengers' loud conversations, babies' cries, or the general aeroplane

noise. However, even on a fully occupied aircraft, a VR head-mounted display and

headphones can give travellers the ideal escape to unwind and take a break (Atalık et al.,

2019). Passengers using VR can watch dreamscapes to aid sleep or even a 360-degree

video of the most recent football game they missed.

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Conclusions

The airline sector's potential benefits from virtual and augmented reality are significant.

Regardless of whether it makes significant strides in the coming years, the technology is already

in place and will eventually become the norm in the aviation business. Therefore, it is reasonable

to assume that AR and VR technologies will be present during one of your upcoming airport

excursions. It is predicted that the aviation virtual reality and augmented reality industry will

increase by more than $1372 million, with a compound annual growth rate of 61.2 per cent by

2025. VR is undoubtedly here to stay in the aviation sector. Businesses that quickly adopt it will

remain in the lead.

Recommendations

The AR/VR system is a system that is important in the aviation industry. The technology

aims to improve the safety of flights and satisfy the passengers to become an airline that

everyone wants to fly with. To achieve Brahmins aviation company goal, I would recommend

adopting the Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology in their system to

enable smooth industry transition.

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References

Baxter, G., Srisaeng, P., & Wild, G. (2018). The Role of Freighter Aircraft in a Full-Service

Network Airline Air Freight Services: The Case of Qantas Freight. MAD - Magazine of

Aviation Development, 6(4), 28–51. https://doi.org/10.14311/mad.2018.04.05

McGill, M., & Brewster, S. (2019). Virtual reality passenger experiences. Proceedings of the

11th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular

Applications: Adjunct Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1145/3349263.3351330

Piekarski, W., & Thomas, B. H. (2004, November 1). Augmented reality working planes: a

foundation for action and construction at a distance. IEEE Xplore.

https://doi.org/10.1109/ISMAR.2004.17

Sutherland, I. E. (1968). A head-mounted three-dimensional display. Proceedings of the

December 9-11, 1968, Fall Joint Computer Conference, Part I on - AFIPS '68 (Fall, Part

I). https://doi.org/10.1145/1476589.1476686

Williamson, J. R., McGill, M., & Outram, K. (2019). PlaneVR. Proceedings of the 2019 CHI

Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI '19.

https://doi.org/10.1145/3290605.3300310