Page 5 - HIWT Winter 2013 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

FROm PEGBOARDS TO SImULATORS TO VIRTUAL REALITY WELDING

(Continued from page 3)

Fig. 3. Shaw and Abrams
Arc Welding Simulator Trainer
Patent Number 3,867,769

CA, developed its first “computerized” arc welding simulator
during the early 1970’s. Harvey B. Shaw and Macy L. Abrams,
both of San Diego, in 1973 applied for and were granted
patent number 3,867,769 for their Arc Welding Simulator
Trainer (See Fig 3) on February 25, 1975. A report was issued
in October 1974 titled “Acquisition of a Psychomotor Skill
Using Simulated-Task, Augmented Feedback,” (Evaluation of
a Welding Training Simulator).

In 2008, based on a National Shipbuilding Research Program
(NSRP) Technology Investment Agreement, a virtual welding
training system was to be developed under the leadership
of Bender Shipbuilding and Repair. It was continued by the
Electric Boat Corporation in 2010, after Bender experienced
financial difficulties. A 50-page final report was issued on
February 29, 2012. Fig. 4 shows the complete system as
described in this report. The last paragraph of the conclusions
reads as follows:
“A usable low-cost virtual welding system has been created
for use in welding training. The current prototype version
represents a baseline for functionality and design, serving as a
proof of concept. It is expected that the current design will be
further developed and enhanced into a marketable commercial
product. We believe that if a low-cost virtual welder product
were available that it would find an eager market among
equipment manufacturers, trade schools, and technical
colleges, in addition to the initial focus of shipyards and the
shipbuilding community.”

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