Vertexa, a therapeutic tool – Serious game VR

Eating Disorders (TCA), such as anorexia or bulimia, affect nearly one million people in France, including a significant number of young individuals. Treatment resistance and frequent relapses are common challenges in the management of Eating Disorders. The nature of treating Eating Disorders is inherently complex. However, the complexity increases even more when the diagnosis is made late. Therefore, one of the major challenges of the French healthcare system lies in early detection and the implementation of appropriate interventions at the first signs of the illness.

Led by a team of doctors, psychologists, dieticians, and research associates from CH d’Arras, and developed by Audace Digital Learning, VERTEXA (Virtual Reality Therapy Exposition in Anorexia) is a therapeutic tool in virtual reality designed for healthcare professionals in private practice and their patients. Its objective is to enable early and innovative management of the disease.

This therapeutic and psychoeducational tool takes the form of gamified and immersive care journey, is the result of digitizing the content of therapeutic day hospital sessions for eating disorders (TCA) at CH Arras, recently certified by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) Hauts-de-France as a “specialized care offering for the management of eating disorders.”

Device

VERTEXA consists of various modules, each focused on a specific symptomatic trait of Eating Disorders (EDs).

In this immersive serious game, the patient, equipped with a virtual reality headset, becomes the protagonist of their own role… and their own care journey.

During 20-minute sessions several times a week, the patient can play and engage with the management of their illness in a playful and immersive environment that is reassuring and attractive. The “gaming” nature and narrative universe of the therapeutic game help to engage the patient, allowing the delivery of educational messages in an effective manner.

Several mini-games and therapeutic or psychoeducational workshops, whose mechanics have been imagined with the collaboration of Audace, are offered to the player. Their objective: to combat food beliefs or body image disorders.

To maintain the patient’s motivation throughout the treatment journey, the software offers a progression through levels of increasing difficulty. A system of achievements allows the player to unlock rewards and positively reinforce the changes accomplished in real life.

The medical teams also have the ability, through a dedicated web interface, to monitor the patient’s adherence and progress. Indeed, the tool allows the physician to obtain key indicators of the patient’s physical health evolution (e.g., automatic calculation of certain measurements) or mental health (e.g., daily self-assessment).

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Targets

Healthcare professionals in the community.

Patients suffering from eating disorders (often young population and increasingly technology-savvy).

Objectives

In the end, the advantage of VERTEXA is to make the expertise of a seasoned multidisciplinary team in supporting anorexic patients available to healthcare professionals who do not have access to such a care structure. This support is provided early on, before the worsening of the symptoms and the often delayed hospitalization. Indeed, early intervention is ultimately the only factor for a favorable prognosis in this condition.

Dr. Vincent FLORENT, MD PhD, nutritionist physician, head of the TCA (Eating Disorders) unit at CH d’Arras, clinician researcher at INSERM U1172 Lille Neurosciences and Cognition.

Discover the project in a video.

Schneider Electric – Crane driving simulator

DEVICE

Real-time driving simulator with control interface for PC and integrated virtual reality headset.

Gamification with amusement park-themed missions, including activities such as “duck fishing” and “claw machine” games.

TARGET

Clients and prospects

Objectives

  • To demonstrate the effectiveness of a new control box for off-site bridges and cranes (at trade shows or at client locations).
  • Designing a real-time piloting simulator with control interface to operate on PC.
  • Development of two environments, indoor and outdoor, with increasingly complex missions to be accomplished.

Discover the project in a video.

Orano – Scaffolding Simulation Software

In order to support its technicians in designing a scaffolding from the simplest to the most complex and planning its installation on site, the nuclear industry giant Orano has entrusted Audace Digital Learning with the development of an industrial simulation of scaffolding assembly in augmented reality.

Device

Simulator aimed at automating the design of scaffolding structures with physics management.

In order to support its technicians in designing a scaffolding from the simplest to the most complex and planning its installation on site, the nuclear industry giant Orano has entrusted Audace Digital Learning with the development of an industrial simulation of scaffolding assembly in augmented reality.

  • personalize the work by adding or removing certain parts of the structure;
  • visualize the installation of the scaffolding on the site (near or distant view),
  • anticipate the risk of collision with the environment,
  • add danger zones

The simulator also includes:

  • Three brands of integrated parts,
  • Management of 3D scenes,
  • The choice of the area to reach,
  • Configuration of the type of work and its customization,
  • Automated generation of means of access,
  • Information on available stocks
  • The generation of part preparation.

Target

Scaffolders in a nuclear power plant.

Objective

To support Orano technicians in designing scaffolding structures, from simple to complex, and planning their installation on-site. The device allows them to visualize the scaffolding as it would be constructed on-site, prior to its actual assembly.

Discover the project with pictures

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Orano – Polar Bridge Driving Simulator in a Cabin

Device

Simulation device for operating polar overhead cranes in a nuclear facility:

  • Modular 1:1 scale cabin with windows replaced by screens.
  • Interactions with ground avatars & object manipulation to prepare interventions during outage periods.
  • Real pilot seat electronically interfaced with the simulation PC.
  • A natural sound

target audience

Crane operators experts.

Objectives

  • Driving practice before training on the actual equipment.
  • Refresher course in polar bridge operation (no actual bridge mobilization);
  • Safety: learning about risk management (dealing with all potential incidents);
  • Productivity: learning how to operate polar bridges in counted time;
  • Training for exceptional missions.

Discover the project in a video.

Audace – Auxiliary crane simulator

After the automated assembly crane driving training simulator, Audace Digital Learning is now launching the first virtual reality training simulator for auxiliary crane driving in virtual reality. Under the supervision of a qualified trainer authorized to provide training for the CACES® R490 certification, the learner practices in a simulated environment using a VR headset before being evaluated on a real machine. With this new device, the learner can operate the machine and confront the risks associated with its handling in a safe environment. This innovative device with ultra-realistic immersion ensures the individual’s safety and prevents any risk of damage or breakage to the machine. It proves particularly effective in accelerating the learner’s autonomy and operational readiness, while also measuring the accuracy of their reactions.

Audace Digital Learning – Elevating Platform Driving Simulator (PEMP)

In order to advance prevention and reduce the risk of accidents, Audace Digital Learning has designed a new turnkey solution for learning and improving the operation of multi-directional mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) in virtual reality (VR). This solution specifically focuses on the category B of MEWPs as defined by the CACES® R486 certification.

This new device, developed in collaboration with AFTRAL, the largest training center for initial transport and logistics in France, offers a highly realistic experience that allows trainees to operate the equipment and confront the risks associated with its operation in a safe environment. Equipped with a real control panel connected to the VR device, the trainee can learn or update their skills in operating the equipment.

The added advantage is the introduction of incident scenarios that prepare the trainee for the worst-case scenarios.

With a customizable interface and a design based on specifications compliant with the new INRS recommendations as of January 1st, 2020, this simulator has many advantages to attract the training and CACES® recertification market. It complements the range of off-the-shelf simulators: forklift truck driving (C3 and C5), industrial overhead cranes, polar bridge cranes, GMA cranes, and auxiliary cranes.

ArcelorMittal – Overhead Crane Driving Simulator

Device

Creation of an overhead crane driving simulator. Physical workstation with reconstructed and interfaced controls. The operator initiates missions and experiences real-time manipulations on a large screen (or 3D glasses, depending on the model).

target audience

Designed for all crane operators.

Objectives

  • To enhance safety and improve the skills of crane operators to work efficiently.
  • To prevent incidents and collisions caused by piloting errors. Errors can be detrimental to the continuous casting loading cycle, leading to costly damages and even causing serious injuries to ground personnel.

F2A Network – Interactive VR Training Kiosks for the Agricultural Sector

The F2A network comprises 47 agricultural institutions offering agri-food training programs. To promote its training programs within specialized high schools, the F2A network has equipped itself with 10 state-of-the-art interactive kiosks.

To enable students, future operators, to explore a complete bottling line (an environment that is generally not easily accessible to students), Audace has equipped one of the terminals with a virtual reality system.

Immersed in this fully recreated 3D environment, students can explore all the technical specifics and learn how to operate the machine safely.

EDF – Augmented reality for training on construction sites.

Objectives

Training device on tablets to introduce nuclear safety management in nuclear facilities. As part of a training program, the learner is provided with a tablet to explore an environment filled with augmented reality hazards in a simulated nuclear setting.

Discover the project in a video.

Bridgestone – Tire manufacturing simulator

For all industrial stakeholders, training new entrants is a significant investment of energy, time, and money. Bridgestone, a leader in tire manufacturing, has invested in blended learning combining face-to-face training, Virtual Reality (VR), and simulation in a training mini-factory produced by Audace.

Device

Audace has recreated a complete production line and various machine tools for Bridgestone. Seven workstations and associated operations are simulated.

The operator navigates in their virtual environment using a VR walking pad. They can perform virtually all tasks required for tire assembly and acquire precise technical skills as well as learn how to monitor checkpoints.

Multiple levels of difficulty and scenarios are incorporated to provide progressive and safe training without the requirement of an operational real machine.

The trainer receives visual feedback on the screen. He can track the results and intervene to reinforce a point or overcome a difficulty.

Since its introduction in France, this VR simulator has been awarded the “Bridgestone Group Award for Management Fundamentals” and has been developed for Spain (B-Kanpus, Bilbao). It is currently being deployed in Hungary and Poland. The concept has been expanded to new production processes such as Quality Control and Mixing (Banbury).

Objective

By overcoming the challenges of hiring and training at Bridgestone, the VR simulator allows unemployed individuals with no prior manufacturing experience to acquire the necessary technical skills and the right pace to work on a tire assembly line without experiencing the stress associated with real production.

Keys to the success of the simulator

1. Hyper-realism

The high-quality 3D graphics of the simulator create a complex environment that immerses the learner, making it indistinguishable from real-life situations.

2. Presence

The learners immediately feel connected or present in this environment. Indeed, this immersive learning has the tremendous advantage of being multi-sensory. It requires:

  • motor functions (involvement of the body in action through the VR treadmill, resistance to effort, ability to repeat precise movements, etc.),
  • sensory functions (sound, vibration, etc.; for an optimal immersion, the sounds of the workshop and the production line have been reproduced),
  • emotional functions (building self-confidence, testing one’s limits, developing vigilance).

3. Realisation

The mechanism by which success is measured in the immersive learning environment is related to real performance objectives. The device itself is adapted to the target audience, namely the Generation Y. Learning involves engaging activities similar to video games that are commonly practiced in private settings, which can generate immediate enthusiasm among learners.

ROI of the simulator

Thanks to the digitization of its training program, Bridgestone Bilbao has observed the following return on investment (ROI):

• 80% reduction in the immobilization of production resources required for training
• 90% reduction in the immobilization of human resources required for training
• 30% to 50% reduction in safety incidents
• 30% to 50% reduction in quality issues

Outcome: 70% cost savings on the total training expenses.

Besides the other impacts :
• National company image (frequent articles in national media + Visit of the Prime Minister of the Basque Country)
• Enhanced local corporate image
• Company image within the industry (clients/suppliers)