Honeywell has introduced a virtual reality (VR) simulator for on the job industrial training. Honeywell’s Immersive Field Simulator is a VR and mixed reality-based training tool that incorporates a digital twin of the physical plant for worker skill-based training.

The Immersive Field Simulator provides a virtual walkthrough to familiarise workers with the plant. It includes avatars that represent virtual team members. The simulator incorporates 3D models and grows with the user as plant operations change. The simulator is customisable to meet specific instructional needs and project team members and plant subject matter experts can easily create customised training modules.

“Faced with increasingly complex technology and an experienced workforce nearing retirement, operators need robust technical training and development solutions that accurately depict real-world environments,” said Pramesh Maheshwari, vice president and general manager, Lifecycle Solutions and Services, Honeywell Process Solutions. “Traditional training approaches often fail to meet the mark when it comes to helping panel and field operators and maintenance technicians in process plants become better at their jobs. The result can be reliability issues and increased operational incidents.”

“With our end-to-end solution, console and field operators can practice different operating and safety scenarios, including rare but critical situations, in a safe, simulated environment,” said Maheshwari. “This approach significantly improves upon current training tools and methods. VR-based training boosts confidence and retention while improving overall professional skills. Experience shows that students using VR can learn significantly faster than in the classroom.”