Virtual professional trial in the field of unmanned aerial systems

The study aims to provide a theoretical description of the methodological support for organizing the virtual professional trial “Unmanned Aerial Systems Operator” (hereinafter referred to as UAS). The article presents the concepts of a virtual professional trial and a virtual career guidance simulator, clarifies the distinguishing features of a virtual professional trial in comparison to traditional trials. Moreover, the work identifies the tasks that need to be addressed in the process of organizing a virtual professional trial to achieve maximum effectiveness and accordingly defines the requirements for implementing a virtual reality application that acts as a virtual professional trial for the target audience of adult learners (specialized professionals and the teachers who will train them). This professional trial is not limited in its application and can be used for high school seniors, as well as students of vocational schools and universities. The article also presents the program of a virtual professional trial and its description. The study reveals the potential of organizing a professional trial for training UAS operators using modern information and communication technologies, namely virtual reality. The scientific novelty of the study lies in developing the virtual professional trial program “UAS Operator” and describing its methodology (curriculum and tasks). The study concludes that the main specificity of implementing the virtual professional trial “UAS Operator” lies in the sequential and systematic organization of theoretical and practical classes aimed at forming the theoretical foundations and practical skills and abilities of learners in using virtual reality technologies to simulate unmanned aerial vehicle control, specifically a civilian drone.