MDA: Training For Outer Space Operations with VR

In this fascinating episode, we go behind the scenes at MDA to explore how they are leveraging XR to prepare for outer space operations. MDA chief software architect Bart Verzijlenberg and VR lead developer Jessa Zabala give us an inside look at their pioneering work with augmented and virtual reality.

Discover how MDA utilizes VR headsets to enable training for outer space. Bart and Zabal share valuable insight into how VR is enhancing pre-operative planning, with astronauts and flight controllers able to immerse themselves in realistic experiences prior to critical missions.

Additionally, we discuss how VR assists onboarding and continuing education for MDA's growing team. New hires can explore full-scale models of the International Space Station, gaining an intuitive understanding of MDA's complex operations and technology. The episode also covers MDA's use of XR for engaging demonstrations and mission planning.

Verzijlenberg and Zabala share challenges faced during initial XR implementation, including security constraints and hardware limitations. However, increasing comfort with the technology has enabled streamlined workflows and multi-site training. Listeners will come away understanding how XR has become an integral part of MDA's drive to push boundaries and helpful advice for implementing your own VR program.

Timestamps:

• Personal background, what led to VR and MDA (04:20)
• Process of bringing VR into MDA (05:36)
• A-ha moments (07:32)
• How MDA is using XR today (08:45)
• ArborXR helping MDA (18:53)
• Challenges with deploying XR (26:29)
• Where do you XR going from here at MDA? (33:58)

About Bart:

Bart is currently the lead software architect for the Gateway External Robotics System (GERS) heading for lunar orbit. He is a founding member of the DREAMR lab (Dynamic Robotic Emulation and Mixed Reality) where he explored mixed reality value opportunities. Starting with simple lessons it quickly grew to remote training (in Covid context), mission review/planning and test support.

Bart Verzijlenberg has been with MDA’s software department since 2010 working on a wide variety of robotic systems and next generation technologies. Projects have ranged from 4 medical robotic devices (MRI based biopsy system and multiple generations of a robotic exoscope used widely in neurosurgery), and testbeds for various flight systems, to next generation robotic development for Lunar Gateway.

About Jessa:

Jessa Marie Zabala is the Virtual Reality Lead Developer at MDA and is the DREAMR Lab's Project Lead. She develops and maintains Meta VR apps used for training astronauts, preliminary mission operations planning, onboarding new employees, and public outreach.

As the DREAMR Lab Project Lead, Jessa is responsible for leading major robotic upgrades in the DREAMR Lab, such as replacing the joints of their zero-gravity robotic arm used for ground testing.

In her 5 years at MDA, she has worked on flight hardware projects, such as repairing one of the latching end effectors of the CANADARM2 and the design of flight support equipment for sending up spare joints to the International Space Station. Jessa has also worked as a mission planner for MDA on the OSIRIS-REx mission that recently brought back a sample from the asteroid Bennu.

Her previous experiences with hardware and mission planning have been invaluable to her work in VR development for astronaut training.

About MDA:

Serving the world from Canada, MDA is an international space mission partner and a robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. Today, they’re leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more. Together with our many intrepid