SBIR-STTR Award

Recent advances in augmented reality (AR) offer valuable opportunities for simulationbased training outside of a medical simulator facility. The potential benefits for combat casualty care training are particularly powerful, as over 100,000 U.S. military medical personnel must be prepared to quickly respond to a broad range of injuries at any point in time. We propose to develop and evaluate a high-fidelity, portable, simulation-based training technology that will allow medics to participate in refresher training anywhere in the world using a mannequin and an augmented reality (AR) headset. Initial training modules will focus on identification and treatment of common causes of preventable death such as tension pneumothorax and airway obstruction. We have assembled a team led by Unveil, creator of the ChironTM augmented reality trainer; and including ITTS, producer of the TOMManikin; and SHAI, leader in intelligent tutoring tutoring technology. Colleagues from The Ohio State University Medical School will serve as academic partner, providing subject matter expertise, and leading the evaluation effort. This team will address technical challenges associated with taking AR training to the next level in terms of providing a high-fidelity yet portable learning experience, and theoretical challenges associated with conducting a meaningful evaluation.

Augmented reality (AR) offers the ability to enhance existing combat medic training by including perceptual cues and adaptive training elements to traditional simulation-based training using manikins. Unveil has developed a training system called the Macrocognitive AR Trainer (MART). MART is designed to foster the development of macrocognitive skills (e.g., sensemaking, assessment skills, mental models, treatment planning). However, there is little research support for how AR-based training elements affect student learning outcomes. In this Phase II effort, we propose to further develop MART to allow students to train with AR hardware (e.g., headset, tablet) alone or in conjunction with a medical manikin. We also propose to evaluate the training components our system with a series of formative studies and user feedback sessions, followed by a summative evaluation. The findings of these evaluations will inform a principled guide to developing AR-based training. We also plan to expand our existing commercialization activities to military and civilian sectors. Our team includes Unveil, Ohio State University (a leader in medical simulation training), Stottler Henke (intelligent tutoring and adaptive training experts), and Innovative Tactical Training Solutions (producers of a combat training manikin). Expected outcomes are the MART prototype and a principled guide for creating AR-based training.