VEHICLES FOR CHANGE
Using VR to train formerly incarcerated individuals for the auto-mechanics trade
Equipping formerly incarcerated individuals with in-demand skills helps them to find work and reintegrate into society. Vehicles for Change is training the once-incarcerated in auto mechanics using an immersive programme made possible by VR.
The challenge
Traditional mechanical training requires hands-on lessons from an instructor who demonstrates repairs. Students typically hone their skills on a real vehicle under supervision. Although it's effective, the physical nature of training comes with a few difficulties:
Instructor availability Every training session needs an experienced professional to teach the students. One-on-one attention is often missed in large groups.
Finding suitable facilities, vehicles, tools and parts Not only is an instructor necessary but vehicles, tools and training facilities with high ceilings are also required. Finding everything that's needed is often time consuming and expensive.
Safety risks Automotive repairs involve dangerous processes and pose a serious threat of injury. This makes one-on-one training even more important.
Expensive costs Paying for vehicles, parts, tools and trainers' time adds up quickly, especially as VFC train around 120 mechanics per year.
Lengthy training programmes Traditional programmes can take between four and nine months to complete, which puts pressure on the system, especially when the current demand for technicians is so high.
VFC's challenge was to find a way to effectively deliver their programme on a broader scale while overcoming these struggles.
About the company
Vehicles for Change (VFC) launched an auto repair and training centre in 2016, offering returning citizens and other individuals with barriers to employment the chance to train in sought-after skills.
Looking to increase access to their training programme, the non-profit organisation turned to virtual reality.
Industry
Automotive
WHY VR
Vehicles for Change decided to use VR for two reasons:
1. To address the increasing need for mechanics
Between 2022 and 2032, it's estimated that there will be 67,700 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics each year in the US. VFC realised that they couldn't help to meet demand with their traditional four-month training programme. VR would give students more opportunities to practice and speed up the training process.2. To avoid high training costs
The existing training programme costs VFC around USD 18,000 for each of their 100+ students, or just over USD 2 million per year. VR would allow VFC to expand their programme while minimising costs.Martin Schwartz,
President and Founder,
Vehicles for Change
“
This is a great tool that offers hands-on training without the expense, without the danger, without any outside issues.
The solution
VFC purchased around 100 Meta Quest 2s to start their VR training initiative. The headsets' high-tech spec, affordability, user-friendly controls and excellent screen resolution made the devices the organisation's preferred choice.
To develop their first-of-its-kind training software, VFC partnered with HTX Labs and the EMPACT Immersive Training Platform. The software displays a virtual garage, bringing the headset wearer into a mechanic's workspace complete with a car, vehicle lift and equipment for repairs.
A virtual instructor teaches the wearer how to perform tasks, such as an oil change or more complicated repairs, in the same way that an instructor would perform them in real life. By following a series of steps on the headset display, students can practise and repeat each task until they have mastered a skill. There are 15 steps in total, each colour-coded to indicate passes and fails.
When a student is confident that they can perform a repair without guidance from the virtual instructor, they can enter assessment mode. Currently, VFC has rolled out their programme across various groups, with a San Diego pilot being the first to see its students graduate.
The results
As the VFC VR auto-mechanic training programme is still in its infancy, the outcomes are pending. Nonetheless, early outcomes have shown promise, with one of the pilot programme graduates securing employment two days after completing the programme.
Recidivism rates, which reflect the number of past offenders re-entering the prison system, have reduced drastically since the programme was piloted in San Diego, with plenty of room to make a difference on a broader socio-economic scale.
Martin Schwartz,
President and Founder,
Vehicles for Change
“
For us, the opportunity to reduce recidivism across the country is really key.
