CRANE OPERATOR VR

• THE IDEA
The team was assigned to develop an educational virtual reality (VR) experience using Unreal Engine, with the objective of creating an optimized application for the Meta Quest 2 headset. We chose to design a VR experience tailored for first-time users, focusing on teaching them how to operate a tower crane positioned atop a skyscraper. To minimize motion sickness, the user remains stationary throughout the experience, while the setting is designed to challenge their fear of heights. Our goal was to deploy the application as a standalone program on the headset, which required careful optimization, including minimizing draw calls and polygon counts.

• WHAT I DID
During this project I worked on the following parts:
- In-game monitors displaying mounted cameras and position of the dolly, hook etc.
- Sound design and implementation
- Game design

To enhance immersion, we chose to integrate essential HUD elements directly into the game environment. This involved placing monitors inside the crane cabin, allowing users to view various camera angles, as well as the positions of the dolly, hook, and other relevant components. I implemented 2D render target textures to display live camera feeds, showing the currently active camera on the in-game monitors. Additionally, a clipboard with a to-do list was introduced to convey player objectives, thereby reducing reliance on traditional menus and HUD overlays.

• FURTHER IMPROVEMENT
Initially, we planned to include multiple types of cranes, such as harbor or container cranes, each offering distinct maneuverability and unique objectives. We also envisioned expanding the gameplay with additional challenges, varied environments, and multiple levels to enhance replayability and depth.
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Group members:
Vanessa Blomén, Kim Falck, Sebastian Ubhult, Moa Bergström, Oscar Alverstedt, Pontus Carling