Electrical equipment maintenance training: An its application in industrial environment

Abstract

The paper reports objectives and results of a research and development activity aimed at designing Intelligent Training Systems (ITS) in industrial environments. The Electrical Equipment Maintenance Training (EEMT) system focuses on recurrent training of technical personnel employed in maintenance of electrical devices, the target being to sensitize experienced technician to safety problems.

Trainees are offered an environment free from real electrical risks in which they can learn how to cope with practical maintenance problems: the model of the electrical equipment coupled with a simulation mechanism provides the physical system behaviour, the explicit representation of the correct maintenance procedures and of the safety regulations support the monitoring and the evaluation of trainee's actions as well as explanations. Adaptability to the trainee needs and preferences is achieved by offering different training strategies and methods, session planning taking into account individual training objectives, and different levels of explanations. Replanning is based on the misconceptions and lacks of knowledge recognized by the diagnosis of detected trainee errors using an implicit cognitive model of his reasoning process. The human computer interface offers a 3D-graphics representation of the working scenario and a highly ergonomic and interactive dialogue system basing on Artificial Reality paradigm.

The work has been undertaken within Esprit Project p2615 which is funded by the Commission of the European Community and by the Electricity Board of Italy.

We also wish to acknowledge D. Marini of Università degli Studi di Milano, and M. Casanova and F. Grasso of CISE for the contribution provided on the Artificial Reality design.