Universal Simulation Platform Online, A Multi-Participants I.E.D. Disposal Simulator

Improvised explosive devices are unconventional weapons that are a significant threat to public safety. Explosive ordnance disposal personnel are tasked with determining methods and procedures for locating, neutralizing, and disposing of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats in extreme environments. Training methods vary depending on the region and military unit, and may use a combination of tools to facilitate a learning process. In our previous work, we proposed a Virtual Reality simulation called Universal Simulation Platform to enable explosive ordnance disposal personnel to train in a safe virtual environment without being exposed to potentially harmful real-world situations whilst being cost effective. In this paper, we propose a multi-participant revision of the simulation software, which allows multiple participants to connect and join a session, work together and attempt to neutralize a bomb(s). A multi-participant improvised explosive device disposal simulation is a novel virtual reality training approach which introduces crucial neutralization training aspects such as teamwork and communication, often neglected functions of virtual reality training simulations.