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Training Deminers through VR

Feb 4, 2021 | 2019 ISSUE, 2020 ISSUE, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), INNOVATION

Training Deminers through VR

2019 ISSUE, 2020 ISSUE, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), INNOVATION

Written by Maya Moussa

Lebanon has been through many wars over the past decades, all of which have resulted in large areas of landmines in the country. These landmines have resulted in 3776 casualties between 1975 and 2017, many of which are due to the process of demining itself. Aside from resulting in many casualties, the normal process of demining requires extensive logistical measures and is sometimes hindered by the absence of multiple parameters related to the weather and terrain. Accordingly, a team of 3 Computer and Communications Engineering students from MSFEA’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department decided to tackle this problem in a novel way in their FYP . Lynn el Khansa, Elias Bou Saada and Rachid Maalouf, under the advisory of  Dr. Ali El Hajj, took on the project of simulating a virtual reality environment for training deminers indoors using Oculus Quest – a project initially under work by the Beirut Research and Innovation Center (BRIC) and in collaboration with the Lebanese Army.
The project was innovative in the topic itself. It tackled an entirely new topic that did not have any available literature review or documentation –  simulating the process of demining using VR. The team was responsible for developing  how the 3D environment interacts with the mines detector. They modeled their project according to a specific detector donated to Lebanon by Italy, in addition to assumptions from BRIC and the Lebanese army. The linear model developed can then be replaced by the actual parameters of detectors to be used afterwards in the needed applications. The project was developed using Unreal Engine as a platform.

The FYP has important effects on multiple aspects of society. On a technical aspect, the idea can be extended to other fields like fast food chains employee training for example. Companies can use similar models to train employees virtually which reduces the cost of wasting real ingredients. On an economic scale, it is important to note that Lebanon has large fields that are contaminated with mines and thus can’t be used for agriculture or investment. Easing the process of clearing up these mines makes the fields more accessible. The project also decreases the number of casualties from training of natural demining. Additionally, in the times of Covid-19, this application allows for indoor training of the army with low numbers of people, allowing social distancing in the training process.

The past months did complicate the work of the team. With the VR set with one team member due to Covid-19, the team had to adjust their process of software development and VR integration. The lack of software documentation related to their topic on Unreal Engine made the process harder as well. However, despite the hardships, the results were phenomenal. The team managed to win two AUB awards : the “Murex Best Innovative Software Project Award” and  the “Dean’s Award for Creative Achievement”.Their project was also featured in the scientific journal “The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction”. And as Rachid Maalouf, a member of the team behind this project said, one of the most crucial benefits of this project is “aiding the country to develop the technology it requires when the need arrives.” Lebanon’s youth have once again proven that with the right support and freedom, the bright minds of this country indeed have the grit it takes to solve this country’s complex problems through developing innovative technologies and solutions.

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