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Series B Round allows RealWear to expand distribution

RealWear Inc. announced an $80-million Series B financing round. RealWear will use the funds, which are a combination of equity and debt, to continue market expansion and accelerate its platform development. RealWear teamed with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to architect an investment syndicate led by Teradyne Inc. (TER), and includes Bose Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures LLC (QCOM), Kopin Corporation (KOPN), and investors from JPMorgan’s (JPM) Private Bank. RealWear Co-Founder and CEO, Andy Lowery, said, “Our seed investments came from friends, family, early customers, suppliers and business partners. Their faith carried us to our Series A, led by Columbia Ventures Corporation. CVC’s experience in heavy industry, one of our primary markets, made it a perfect match.” Lowery continued: “It was critical that RealWear’s new investors be business and technology leaders. Teradyne, Bose Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures and Kopin fit that bill.” RealWear has focused on products that are specifically designed for the connected enterprise workforce to improve job satisfaction, productivity and safety. Its industrial hands-free wearable computers enhance, rather than diminish, a worker’s situational awareness while delivering vital information on-demand in the harshest of environments. RealWear achievements in the last 18 months include over 15,000 HMT systems shipped, more than 1,300 enterprise customers [...]

By | 2019-07-09T17:09:38+00:00 July 9th, 2019|

VSTEP launches next-generation safety trainer Response Simulator

VSTEP has released Response Simulator (RS), an advanced virtual training platform. The new system will provide even more benefits to users by further expanding the safety training capabilities. RS builds on VSTEP’s previous incident command simulator RescueSim by setting and enabling a much wider range of training options. The platform will not only accommodate incident command training as a system, but can also be expanded to many more types of training scenarios. These innovations will enable more users to benefit from the advantages of virtual training. The current landscape, in which safety and security professionals work, demands newer, more stringent safety training procedures. To ensure that they are prepared to face potentially dangerous situations, they must obtain the necessary knowledge for correct procedural handling. This is typically done through practical training, which remains costly and prone to accidents. RS eliminates these problems and allows users to train their skills in an advanced virtual environment. “Throughout the development process of RS, we looked at how each improvement can create the most positive impact. This paved the way for the introduction of benefits that are tailored towards users’ needs. Processing this valuable input was a critical aspect to improving how our users [...]

By | 2019-07-08T20:53:58+00:00 July 8th, 2019|

Immersion chosen to equip French market with Varjo VR-1

Varjo announced the official launch of its local reseller network for the first human-eye resolution virtual reality (VR) device, the Varjo VR-1. The company has chosen Immersion to equip the French market. Varjo’s local resellers will play a key role in introducing the product – designed solely for professionals in industrial design and architecture, training and simulation, as well as research – to companies and research institutions that want to build immersive experiences in human-eye resolution. Previously only available directly through Varjo, the resellers have been handpicked and certified with the goal of providing companies with the best possible local support for acquiring, setting up and implementing the Varjo VR-1. With their deep industry knowledge, Varjo’s local resellers are well equipped to help companies start utilizing VR to shorten design life cycles and make training and research more effective, resulting in time and cost savings. “Varjo has chosen Immersion as the first reseller in France because of their strong background and expertise in the virtual and mixed reality space. As an established player in the industry, Immersion is able to help Varjo to gain a strong foothold in the French market,” said Miika Jokinen, Sales & Channel Development at Varjo. [...]

By | 2019-07-08T20:49:05+00:00 July 8th, 2019|

Serious Labs to demo Serious:XR training platform at bauma

Serious Labs will provide a sneak peek of its latest emerging technology product, Serious:XR, at bauma in Munich, Germany, from April 8-14. Serious Labs will offer demos of the Extended Reality (XR) platform, as well as its Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) VR training simulator and Overhead Crane VR training simulator on stand 7 C2:226 in bauma’s Canadian Pavilion. The new XR collaborative worksite platform is designed to train and assess remote workers for plant, industrial and other types of worksite operations. The Serious:XR platform allows trainees to conduct practical and emergency operations in a safe environment, while building and assessing employee safety, efficiency and proficiency. “Safety and competency are crucial for any worksite, but logistics, time and resources often make training a challenge,” said Wade Carson, director of Business Development, Serious Labs. “Collaborative VR training overcomes the obstacles of assessing practical, hands-on experience for today’s global workforce.” The platform allows multiple users to collaborate remotely from anywhere in the world with other team members, trainers and subject matter experts in a simulated virtual environment. By using a VR kit, which includes a corded headset, gaming laptop and internet connection, the user is immersed in a virtual world. “Serious:XR removes [...]

By | 2019-07-08T20:42:10+00:00 July 8th, 2019|

TANTRUM Lab develops VR Rigger training system

TANTRUM Lab has combined its VR (virtual reality) Crane training simulator with a Rigger VR training experience to develop the TANTRUM Lab VR Rigger training system. The VR Rigger training system uses the same environments as the VR Crane operator and provides an opportunity for the trainees to view lifts from the ground, giving a rigger’s perspective on what may be happening during lifts. The program’s 33 OSHA-approved multiple choice questions will test students’ knowledge of theory as well as provide 3D visual objects that students can use to assess and evaluate. The test then puts students into real-world offshore scenarios where they will use theory in a practical portion to identify 30 hazards in five different scenarios. “No one ever thinks about the riggers, there’s way more of them and they’re the ones in the immediate area of danger nine times out of 10,” said Eastern Region & Gulf of Mexico Regional Sales Manager Travis Cummings. The VR Rigger runs as a standalone system and does not require the complete VR Crane system to be operated. It has specifically been designed to run on the Oculus Go, a standalone self-contained and portable VR system that provides a fully immersive [...]

By | 2019-07-08T20:36:22+00:00 July 1st, 2019|

CM Labs launches collaborative Crawler Crane training solution

CM Labs Simulations released a collaborative learning solution that engages two trainees simultaneously. Built into CM Labs’ Crawler Crane Training Pack, this new simulation-based training solution teaches the lead crane operator how to safely and efficiently manoeuver a steel pipe load in tandem with a secondary crane, operated from another simulator connected on the network. The Crawler Crane Training Pack can be deployed in multiple configurations, with operators working at any combination of CM Labs simulators, including the motion-enabled Vortex Advantage simulator, the desktop Vortex Edge Plus simulator, or the Instructor Operating Station (IOS). The collaborative learning scenario exposes operators to the requirement for constant communication and clear cues on the work site. “Accidents happen when crews aren’t used to each other. That’s why collaborative training is effective training,” says Drew Carruthers, CM Labs’ director of Training Solutions. “This training solution embeds multiple trainees in a truly engaging learning process, as well as helping develop critical teamwork and communication skills that are difficult to teach safely in the field.” When paired with CM Labs’ Instructor Operating Station, the Crawler Crane Training Pack includes real-time reporting of operator performance metrics, and customisable scoring, as well as lift plans.

By | 2019-06-26T12:57:53+00:00 June 26th, 2019|

GlobalSim completes Full Mission crane simulator installation

GlobalSim Inc. has completed the installation of a Full Mission crane simulator for the Steamship Trade Association of Baltimore at the Port of Baltimore. The simulator is now fully operational and will be used for training operators for the STS Cranes, RTG Cranes and Ship Pedestal cranes. Ports America Chesapeake vice president Bayard Hogans said, “This simulator conforms to the exact specifications of our large berth-side cranes at Seagirt Marine Terminal and will allow us to provide a high level of training specific to the requirements of a crane operator in our container operations. We also intend to use the simulator to enhance the skills of our existing crane operators. We look forward to integrating the simulator into our training.” The simulator is a GlobalSim 5th Generation Full Mission system and includes eight flat-panel 4k displays. The entire system is built upon a proprietary 3DOF (degrees of freedom) motion base that moves the entire simulator and gives the crane operator the realistic motions he/she would feel while operating a real crane. The controls and buttons on the simulator are authentic and laid out nearly exact to the real cranes at the port. The system also features an instructor control station [...]

By | 2019-06-25T20:43:04+00:00 June 25th, 2019|

CM Labs and Antycip form partnership

CM Labs Simulations has established a presence in Europe by partnering with Antycip Simulation. CM Labs now has a presence in Antycip’s offices in the UK, France and Italy. The company’s headquarters will remain in Montreal, Canada. Through the partnership, CM Labs now provides local training throughout Europe, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

By | 2019-06-25T20:32:09+00:00 June 25th, 2019|

Serious Labs, Skyjack develop VR scissor lift simulator

Serious Labs and Skyjack have developed a new virtual reality (VR) scissor lift operator training simulator. The scissor lift training scenarios, developed through guidance with Skyjack, will take the operator through realistic exercises of driving, turning, lifting and lowering. The scenarios will support a “generic” style of scissor lift – one diesel rough terrain and one electric slab – and provide the same feel and balance as being on the actual machine. A data-capture system records the operator’s achievements and failures, which can identify weaknesses for future improvement. The scissor lift scenarios are being designed to comply with the new ANSI standards and the IPAF training program. The simulator’s training scenarios map 1:1 on assessment for certification validation while tracking the movement of best practices. “The goal of our operator training is to provide a safe environment to learn and make mistakes. But once those operators get on the job site, the goal is that they go home in the same shape as when they arrived. VR training helps achieve that,” said Jim Colvin, CEO of Serious Labs. United Rentals, which is a partner with Serious Labs, said it’s imperative for the industry to continue to embrace disruptive innovations when [...]

By | 2019-07-08T20:35:40+00:00 June 19th, 2019|

Serious Labs launches Aerial Virtual Reality Training Simulator

Serious Labs launched its new Aerial Virtual Reality Training Simulator. The simulator combines Serious Labs’ new scissor lift modules with its boom lift modules to provide a comprehensive aerial operator training solution for the rental industry. “The labor force is changing,” said Jim Colvin, CEO, Serious Labs. “Millennials are entering the workforce and they prefer to learn in a different way. Immersive VR simulations provide the perfect learning medium where these new operators can explore realistic job site environments and safely test the limits of equipment in dangerous situations. Simulators were previously only available in industries such as aviation, but they are ideal for the construction industry where safety and competency are paramount.” The new scissor lift modules consist of 18 training scenarios on slab and diesel rough terrain scissor lifts. There are also 16 articulating boom lift scenarios. The simulations progressively become more challenging, isolating tasks around driving, lifting, platform positioning and operating. Each module will take the novice approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to complete; a seasoned professional about 45 minutes. Metrics provide feedback about the operator’s performance, showing weaknesses and strengths. The scissor lift scenarios were co-developed by Nationwide Platforms in the United Kingdom, a division [...]

By | 2019-07-08T20:37:12+00:00 June 19th, 2019|