HMS at the University of Pennsylvania: AVIS-MS: Advanced Visual and Instruction Systems for Maintenance Support

Complexity, customization, and packaging of military platforms and systems increase maintenance difficulty at the same time as the available pool of skilled technical personnel may be shrinking. In this environment maintenance training, technical order presentation, and flight-line operational practice may need to adopt "just-in-time" procedural aids. Moreover, the realities of real-world maintenance may not permit the hardware indulgences and rigid controls of laboratory settings for visualization and training systems, and at the same time the actual activities of maintainers will challenge requirements for portable or wearable devices. This project investigates technologies that maybe used in the maintenance of Air Force equipment.

When considering how a maintainer might interact with an instruction delivery tool, we considered traditional input mechanisms (i.e., keyboards and mice). We feel that these tools are not optimal in the maintenance environment. Focusing on a computer screen and mouse and keyboard distracts from the maintenance task. Additionally, the grimy nature of maintenance is not conducive to these devices. Hence, we decided to experiment with the use of CyberGloves and hand gestures. They may be worn under traditional work gloves that would help to protect them.

Found at: http://cg.cis.upenn.edu/hms/research/AVIS/AVIS.html