From Risk to Reality: Paradigm Shift in the Industry with VR Assisted Maneuver Training (ManeVRa)

Öz

The maneuvering of high voltage equipment in power plants represents one of the most critical and risk-laden operations in the energy sector, demanding both advanced technical proficiency and a high level of operational awareness. Traditional training methods fall short in providing safe, repeatable, and realistic practice opportunities for these life-critical procedures, especially as OHS regulations increasingly restrict real-world hands-on training. This study presents the design, development, and implementation of “ManeVRa” an innovative, modular, and highly realistic VR training platform developed for switchgear maneuver operations in the Turkish electricity sector. The platform was created through agile project management, real-world field studies, and close collaboration with industry experts. Using Unity’s VR capabilities, Leap Motion hand tracking, and advanced physics modeling, the system simulates over 225 unique operational and emergency scenarios, enabling both individual and multiplayer training modes in a safe environment. Pilot studies show that technical staff who trained with ManeVRa exhibited a substantial reduction in error rates and improved occupational safety awareness compared to traditional methods. The modular architecture ensures that new plant types and scenarios can be rapidly added, making the system both scalable and sustainable. This paper discusses the challenges of VR based industrial training, the technical and pedagogical considerations involved in system development, and the impact of the application on operational safety and workforce competence. The findings demonstrate that ManeVRa bridges key gaps identified in the literature, offering a reference model for next-generation VR based training solutions in high-risk industries.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Virtual reality
• Maneuver Training
• Unity
• Energy
• Switchyard

Riskten Gerçeğe: VR Destekli Manevra Eğitimi (ManeVRa) ile Sektörde Paradigma Değişimi

Öz

Enerji santrallerinde yüksek gerilimli ekipmanların manevraları, enerji sektöründeki en kritik ve riskli operasyonlardan birini temsil etmekte olup, hem ileri teknik yeterlilik hem de yüksek düzeyde operasyonel farkındalık gerektirmektedir. Geleneksel eğitim yöntemleri, özellikle İSG yönetmeliklerinin gerçek dünyadaki uygulamalı eğitimi giderek daha fazla kısıtlamasıyla, bu hayati öneme sahip prosedürler için güvenli, tekrarlanabilir ve gerçekçi uygulama fırsatları sağlamada yetersiz kalmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye elektrik sektöründe şalt ekipmanı manevra operasyonları için geliştirilen yenilikçi, modüler ve oldukça gerçekçi bir VR eğitim platformu olan “ManeVRa”nın tasarımını, geliştirilmesini ve uygulamasını sunmaktadır. Platform, çevik proje yönetimi, gerçek dünya saha çalışmaları ve sektör uzmanlarıyla yakın iş birliği yoluyla oluşturulmuştur. Unity’nin VR yeteneklerini, Leap Motion el takibini ve gelişmiş fizik modellemesini kullanan sistem, 225’ten fazla benzersiz operasyonel ve acil durum senaryosunu simüle ederek güvenli bir ortamda hem bireysel hem de çok oyunculu eğitim modlarına olanak sağlamaktadır. Bu makalede, VR tabanlı endüstriyel eğitimin zorlukları, sistem geliştirme sürecinde dikkate alınan teknik ve pedagojik hususlar ve uygulamanın operasyonel güvenlik ve iş gücü yeterliliği üzerindeki etkisi ele alınmaktadır. Bulgular, ManeVRa'nın literatürde tespit edilen temel boşlukları doldurarak, yüksek riskli endüstrilerde yeni nesil VR tabanlı eğitim çözümleri için bir referans modeli sunduğunu göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sanal gerçeklik
• manevra eğitimi
• unity
• enerji
• şalt sahası

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