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Unbound XR Business visiting the KLM VR Center of Excellence

How cool is that; be invited by KLM to take a look at their high-tech XR Lab! On Monday, April 26, 2021, Remco de Jong, Managing Director of Unbound VR/XR, visited the lab and got into conversation with Werner Soeteman (Sr IT manager KLM) and Chris Koomen (Virtual Reality specialist). with Years of experience as a former pilot (Remco himself worked for years as a pilot for a development organization in Northern Australia) this visit to KLM was of course doubly interesting!

KLM uses its own in-house developed VR software

KLM has been with developing VR and XR software for years. They employ their own software development team that focuses (among other things) on creating specific VR training applications for aviation (more about this later in this blog). What is also interesting is the fact that the KLM software can also be used outside the airline. For example, schools, such as Deltion College in Zwolle, are busy with running pilots to include VR training in the curriculum. The "Aviation Engineering" course uses, among other things, KLM's VR software to familiarize and train students with in the various aspects of aviation.

KLM Cityhopper: the first airline with VR integration

Werner Soeteman, manager XR Center Of Excellence of KLM IT, indicates that KLM Cityhopper is the first airline to integrate VR in the training program for pilots on Embraer aircraft (specifically the Embraer 175 and 190). These are smaller planes used for European flights.

In VR training there are three different applications that are all part of the Type Rating Course in which pilots are introduced with the specific characteristics of the aircraft type in which they will be flying.

  • Virtual cockpit: the pilot is located in the cockpit, which consists of an interactive computer-generated image of the control panels.
  • Instruction video: the pilot can watch a flight in a 360-degree film in the cockpit.
  • VR Walk around: the pilot can walk through and around a Boeing 787-10 thanks to 360-degree static photos.

"These are also the three different ways you can capture content that is used to create Virtual Reality applications," explains Werner Soeteman. “The interactive virtual cockpit was created entirely by our team of VR developers and 3D designers with Computers. For the 360-degree film and photos, one of our VR engineers with flew an advanced 360-degree camera in the cockpit. All this in close collaboration with with the pilots of KLM Cityhopper. Our developers themselves have no idea how an Embraer aircraft works, although they have come a long way now. "

The interactive virtual cockpit was created entirely by our team of VR developers and 3D designers with Computers. For the 360-degree film and photos, one of our VR engineers with flew an advanced 360-degree camera in the cockpit.

Remco de Jong was also able to try out the virtual cockpit, with great pleasure. Despite the fact that he last flew in a cockpit more than 10 years ago, it was very nice for him to be able to sit at the controls of a box again.

The VR application is built for the Oculus Quest 2 and uses Facebook Workplace; the software management platform of Oculus for Business. Want to know more about Oculus for Business? Then take our blog Oculus for Business: Everything you need to know just keep going.

Using the Oculus Quest 2 or the Pico Neo 2

Like many other companies and organizations, KLM has also investigated which Standalone VR glasses are most suitable for the application. In the end, the Pico Neo 2 and the Oculus Quest 2 (for Business) were left in the considerations. The choice fell on the Oculus Quest 2 because these glasses ultimately gave the most comfort to the user. A much heard objection to the Pico Neo 2 is that drift occurs over time. This is a disruptive effect that increases during a user session. It means that there is a discrepancy between the physical place where you are at that moment and the virtual place. Subconsciously, this effect also introduces a feeling of nausea to the user (also known as motion sickness). With the Oculus Quest 2, this effect is almost absent, giving the user a better experience. For more Information about this, please refer to our other blog: Oculus Quest 2 vs. Pico Neo 2.

For the central HMD management, the kiosk mode and other development options, KLM has access to Facebook Workplace and Application Management. These features are only available with the Oculus Quest 2 for Business variant. An additional advantage of working with Oculus is that the Oculus developers are easily accessible and have even added requested functions and possibilities for KLM, according to Werner.

KLM VR Training: passenger bridge operation

Together with Chris Koomen, VR specialist of the KLM XR Center of Excellence, Remco was given a further tour of the XR lab. In addition to the flight-crew training, a bridge training has also been made, with which personnel can learn to use the jet bridle. This is a movable bridge, which is attached to the terminal via hinges and must then be connected to an aircraft by pivoting in vertical and horizontal direction and by lengthening (or shortening). with this training prevents personnel in training from having to practice on a real aircraft. This saves costs and of course also prevents potential damage to the aircraft.

Final word

Finally, the gentlemen with talked to each other about the use of the new Varjo XR-3 for the VR training sessions of KLM. Varjo's latest headsets deliver unsurpassed visual fidelity in industries where absolute precision is required, such as training and simulation, design, engineering, medical and research. Varjo has already made a number of applications for aviation, including an eye tracking demo for air traffic control and a flight simulation training. Al with although it was a beautiful and constructive day at KLM, during which Remco also felt his old airmen's blood bubbling. with thanks to Werner Soeteman and Chris Koomen.

Unbound XR Business is the permanent XR hardware partner of KLM. We distinguish ourselves by our Focus on hardware. with This specialism makes us a reliable partner for many organizations, such as KLM, for supplying all XR related hardware from our catalog and beyond. More info or can we be of service to your company? Then take Contact with us on.

Diederik Hermsen- XR Product Specialist

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