"HTX has provided us an immersive emergency procedure trainer that filled an essential gap in our pilot training program. They are a responsive and attentive company, that have been great to work with!"
HTX Labs initially engaged with the US military as part of the Pilot Training Next (PTN) initiative recently undertaken by the US Air Force to address the current pilot shortage. The objective was to leverage technologies, such as artificial intelligence, advanced biometrics and virtual reality, to increase the speed of learning and enable incoming student pilots to train at their own pace employing a more student-directed, adaptive learning style.
We create engaging experiences to help students practice step-by-step procedures that will fast-track learning, mastery and retention of military protocols. Whether you’re with the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps, highly realistic simulations can provide a learn-by-doing environment for new recruits and military personnel that has been proven to be more effective than passive learning alone.
Nothing heightens a person’s senses like firsthand experience - the next closest thing is a virtual (reality) experience.
HTX Labs, the creator of the EMPACT® immersive training platform, has been awarded a contract with the US Air Force to collaborate with the Maintenance Next (MXN) program to leverage EMPACT’s content creation, management and delivery capabilities to develop a next generation immersive curriculum for AF Maintenance Training.
MoreMoreThe funding provided in this Phase II award will be used to accelerate the development of the HTX EMPACT® Virtual Reality (VR) platform which the Air Force plans to leverage as a way to fast-track the creation and utilization of highly immersive VR simulations within their education and training programs.
MoreMoreThe award provides funding for the continued development of training simulations built on HTX Labs’ EMPACT® Virtual Reality (VR) platform that are designed to enhance student understanding, retention and mastery of military procedures and protocols.
MoreMoreThe U.S. Air Force has recently undertaken the Pilot Training Next (PTN) initiative as a way to to address the current pilot shortage of roughly 2,000 pilots, especially fighter pilots. It was identified that part of the solution is to streamline the training pipeline through the use of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and advanced biometrics.
One of the key challenges to qualifying pilots is training to handle Emergency Procedures (EP) that might take place on the ground or in flight. Limited availability of flight simulators prevents pilots from effectively training on emergency procedures forcing training to be done as a "stand up" exercise where student pilots are required to use their imagination to put themselves in an emergency situation.
HTX Labs was charged by the Air Force with developing a fully-immersive virtual reality simulation to enable pilots to experience a ground or in-flight emergency to train and demonstrate their ability to efficiently and accurately work through an emergency situation. With the use of the HTX EP Training simulation, instructor pilots are able to place a student pilot in a realistic emergency, such as an engine fire or avionics malfunction, and require the student pilot to work through the appropriate activities and communications tasks to resolve the emergency and prevent damage to equipment, and personal injury or loss of life. Student pilots are now able to access the EP simulation at any time using their VR system issued to them as part of the PTN program.
Immersive technology allows you to take ownership of your learning. It offers a highly flexible environment via a head-mounted display (HMD) and commercial software to practice and perfect processes at your own pace. At the same time, you’ll gain firsthand experience, and commit to memory the steps required for optimal performance.
To learn more about programs in the US Military that are leveraging virtual reality and immersive technology, check out these resources: