Open Call for Innovative Defense-Related Dual-Purpose Technologies/Solutions with a Clear Air Force Stakeholder Need

The Air Force Non-Destructive Inspection Schoolhouse experiences challenges teaching inspection techniques to many students due to a lack of physics and engineering in the students’ educational background. This leaves inspectors with incomplete training: they understand What to look for on a scanner screen, but not How the scanner determined a problem exists. ARCS Aviation performed a Feasibility Study to determine if student understanding could be expanded by using Augmented Reality (AR) to show the underlying physics of NDI, teaching the Why, not just the What, using a proof of concept Microsoft HoloLens application developed by ARCS that shows visually how the testing forces and failures would look if visible. The NDI Instructors asserted the approach is valid and should be expanded to include a more thorough exploration of the proof of concept subject (Eddy Current) and additional inspection techniques. ARCS proposes to prototype AR applications and supply the hardware and software for a complete class to visualize Eddy Current, Electromagnetic Forces, Magnetic Field, and Ultrasound to enhance existing curricula. This training will reduce student failure rate, improve test scores, and reduce remedial training time. ARCS additionally will commercialize the results and market to institutions teaching basic physics.