On 10th and 11th December - parallel to the THEIA-XR Consortium Meeting and UnitedXR in Brussels - Julius Röhlig and Manuel Kulzer-Braun visited the ÜAZ Glauchau Construction Machinery Centre, which has been supporting the project in the construction use case since summer 2023. We were warmly welcomed by Sven Förstel, Head of Training, Michael Wieczorek, Head of the Centre, and their colleagues. The main focus of this visit was the evaluation of the prototypes for the excavator cab developed in the project.
On the first day of the visit Sven Förstel and six trainees were able to test an excavator simulator that included some of the new technologies developed over the past few years in collaboration with machine operators. On the second day, three further evaluations with trainers followed. Each test consisted of a short explanation phase in which the participants could familiarize themselves with the system, followed by two typical work tasks that had to be completed using the simulation and a detailed evaluation of the vehicle functions using comprehensive scientific questionnaires.
Despite, or perhaps because of the detailed survey, which took around an hour per person, the trainees in particular were enthusiastic about having been part of the study and the project.
The management of the ÜAZ Glauchau training centre expressed great interest in being involved from the outset in possible follow-up projects that research technologies for the construction industry and incorporate them into the machines of the future.
