Alternative manipulation strategies in a virtual reality training system

The importance of training simulators in the power industry has been recognised due to the risks involved for a professional in this field. However more work is needed on the training user interface. The virtual reality (VR) training simulator ESOPE-VR has been developed as a functional VR system which serves as an extension to the traditional simulator. Many issues were confronted during this development. One major issue is the man-machine strategy and interface to be used. This issue is critical since it influences the level of immersion or realism that can be achieved. This paper discusses three different hand controlled manipulation devices, their integration and some test data showing the effectiveness of their manipulation strategies.