Augmented Reality Mentor for Training Maintenance Procedures: Interim Assessment

Abstract : The Augmented Reality Mentor is a 2-yr advanced development effort seeking to demonstrate the training potential of integrating visual augmented reality (AR) with virtual personal assistant (VPA) technology. The training demonstration venue is basic maintenance training for the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV). This report is a high level assessment of the AR Mentor's potential as of the end of the first year of effort. BFV maintenance students, BFV instructors, and non-BFV mechanics felt that, relative to using the technical manual to guide training, the AR mentor presented less of a mental load. Relative to instructor training, novice maintenance students using AR Mentor showed equivalent levels of errors and help-seeking, and significantly lower levels of instructor intervention. Observations indicated AR Mentor students engaged in greater collaborative problem solving than in other learning conditions. Accuracy of voice recognition and relevance of instruction from the VPA was judged adequate. AR Mentor is a wearable technology; users indicated that at times its form and fit somewhat hindered their movement. The AR Mentor assessment results will inform continued development during the second year of the project.