Successful completion of "VR²epair" - virtual reality makes repairs easier

The “VR²epair” project at the Institute for Information Systems (iisys), which investigated the use of virtual reality (VR) to repair household electrical appliances in cooperation with the vocational school center in Kronach (Lorenz Kaim School) and other project partners, has now been successfully completed. The aim of the project was to improve vocational education and training in the field of electrical engineering through immersive VR experiences. Appliances such as TVs, washing machines and multimeters were simulated to enable troubleshooting and repair in an interactive environment.

*Learning in virtual worlds in the VR²epair project; Image: Hof University of Applied Sciences;*

Prof. Dr. René Peinl, scientific director of iisys and project manager of “VR²epair”, emphasized the importance of the project:

‘Due to the increasingly affordable access to high-quality VR headsets, these learning options are gaining additional appeal.”
Prof. Dr. René Peinl

The project was aimed at electrical engineers in training and further education, particularly with regard to the new “right to repair”. This EU-wide law promotes the reparability of products in order to extend their lifespan and counteract the throwaway society. “For this to work, service technicians must also be well trained so that repairs don’t take an unnecessarily long time and become expensive,” says Prof. Dr. Peinl.

Practicing in virtual reality cannot replace experience in the real world, but it can usefully supplement it. It is much easier to simulate different types of faults virtually than in the real world. What’s more, you don’t need to have large bulky devices standing around for practicing and can get started anytime and anywhere you have enough space. The simulation offers various tutorials that guide users step by step through the repair process, as well as a free practice mode where you can try out what you have learned without instructions to find out how much has stuck.

With the completion of “VR²epair”, an innovative tool is now available that offers professionals practical training and thus makes an important contribution to the implementation of the right to repair.