North East tech company launches AR app to support the rise of electric vehicles

A North East based immersive technology company has helped launch an Augmented Reality (AR) app to support the UK’s electrification drive. Fuzzy Logic Studio created the app as part of The Emerging Skills Project in Electrification a national pilot geared towards making the country a world leader in battery technology, power electronics, motors and drives.

The Department for Education (DfE), with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult), introduced The Emerging Skills Project in March 2021 to provide cutting-edge training focussed on addressing the future skills gaps in manufacturing and the wider engineering workforce. It is funded by the DfE, as part of the government’s Skills for Jobs plan.

The final AR training solution enables learners to practice assembling and disassembling an EV battery, motor and connector using interactive 3D digital models. It includes a drag-and-drop toolbox, as well as text-to-speech functionality.

Visualisation and simulation tools, such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, have been shown to greatly improve knowledge retention within learning environments. As part of this project, Fuzzy Logic also produced a series of learning videos illustrating the disassembly of a physical EV battery.

The learning material for the Emerging Skills Project was written by Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick, HVM Catapult and The Faraday Institution. Working directly with industry, they identified the key principles and skills needed to develop both the existing and future workforce.

Harvey Trent, director of Fuzzy Logic Studio, said: “It has been a privilege to be part of this project, collaborating with the various stakeholders to create a truly immersive learning experience. Peter Routledge, Electrification Lead, played an integral role as a content specialist, ensuring that the elements of the AR experience aligned with the learning outcomes.

“How organisations deliver training is changing with the advancement of technologies, such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. They can be used alongside other methodologies to enhance learning outcomes.

“The application of Augmented Reality in this instance means learners can physically engage with the steps involved in disassembling an EV battery, motor, and connector, without the associated safety risks.”

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