DEFENCE: Reproducing a Warship’s Sound Environment for Immersive VR Training
- coralie427
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
In the naval domain, onboard training is often expensive, complex and bound by heavy operational constraints. VR simulators offer a credible and efficient alternative — provided that not only the gestures and procedures are recreated, but also the sensory ambiance of the vessel.
At G4F Lab, we developed an immersive sound environment for a VR simulator of a surface ship (FREMM type).
The goal: to train sailors in maintenance and alert management, while respecting the specific acoustic codes of this environment.
Immersion through the sense of hearing
In a confined environment such as aboard a ship, sound is a key reference. It allows you to locate an incident, identify an alarm, follow a communication procedure… That’s why our sound-design work focused on fidelity and spatialisation:
The ship’s alarms were recreated with precision, taking into account their diffusion by zone and their directional characteristics.
On-board telephones are interactive: the trainee can pick up the handset and enter into communication with an instructor or simulated script, enhancing procedural realism.
The overall sound environment: machines, vibrations, ambient hull noise — was rendered in order to fully immerse the user in the reality of the ship.
All these elements are reproduced in 3D spatialised audio, both via headsets and in classrooms equipped with multichannel systems.
Multi-user, low-latency communication
Training often takes place in multi-user mode, where multiple trainees and instructors interact in real time. This requires very fine control of audio communication.
We integrated a solution enabling:
Use of participants’ real microphones, to increase the authenticity of the experience
Maximum latency reduction, to approach the actual onboard delay of equipment
Seamless interaction: essential to train reflexes under emergency conditions
This optimisation enables sailors to train in conditions close to reality, especially during coordination exercises or communication in critical situations.
A modular and operational solution
Our audio approach is designed to adapt to a variety of training contexts:
Individual sessions with a VR headset
Group training in equipped spaces
Dynamic scenarios operated by an instructor or in autonomous mode
Thanks to spatialised and contextual sound, sailors build automatisms, develop better spatial awareness and gain a finer understanding of communication tools and alarms. A strategic sound-added value for training that is more realistic, more efficient and more deployable on missions.
