Virtual Reality Applied to Artillery Observation Training with the Support of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This paper presents the development and evaluation of the SAOA VANT simulator, a virtual reality-based tool designed to enhance artillery observer training through unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery. Building on a previously developed simulator for ground observation, this work introduces the aerial perspective as a natural progression for artillery training. The simulator was evaluated with 33 military personnel performing artillery observation tasks in a virtual environment. Participants completed multiple firing missions, followed by an assessment using effectiveness, presence, and sickness metrics. The results demonstrated the simulator’s effectiveness in improving observer accuracy and decision-making, with high levels of presence and minimal simulator sickness compared to established reference values. These findings highlight the simulator’s potential as a reliable and cost-efficient training tool, capable of enhancing operational readiness while mitigating common VR-related adverse effects.