Virtual Reality: Fundamentals and nuclear related applications

ISHII Hirotake

Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan (hirotake@ieee.org)

Abstract: Since the first virtual reality (VR) system was developed by Dr. Ivan Sutherland in the 1960s, various research and development have been conducted to apply VR to many fields. One promising application is a nuclear-related one. VR is useful for control room design support, operation training, maintenance training, decommissioning planning support, nuclear education, work image sharing, telecollaboration, and even providing an experimental test-bed. In this lecture note, fundamental knowledge of VR is presented first, and various VR applications to nuclear fields are stated along with their advantages. Then appropriate cases for introducing VR are summarized and future prospects are given.

Keywords: virtual reality; training, design support; planning support