JIVE, the key robotics training application developed in a 3D virtual reality (VR) environment, has been created under a collaboration agreement between ESA and NASA. It is designed to support training for operating Canadarm2 aboard the International Space Station (ISS), a task requiring substantial training and certification time due to its complexity.
The JIVE software allows trainees to learn Canadarm2 operations within a virtual Cupola module, providing a highly realistic simulation of the arm’s functions. This experience is enhanced by a mixed-reality setup, which integrates physically accurate simulations and a real controller setup. The software has contributed to a significant reduction in training time, cutting required man-hours for both crew members and ground controllers by half.
During the Houston visit, the new JIVE iteration was demonstrated not only to robotics instructors but also to various groups, including personnel from the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) and managers from the Lunar Gateway project, all of whom provided encouraging feedback. Additionally, the team was invited to an extravehicular activity (EVA) training session with NBL divers to explore potential applications of XR technology in EVA training, following the success demonstrated in robotics training.
