The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $259,969 Project Grant under the Integrative Activities (CFDA 47.083) program to the West Virginia University Research Corporation. The award period runs from February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2027.
The project aims to enhance workforce training in smart manufacturing by integrating mixed reality (MR) and digital twin (DT) technologies. Key objectives include: (1) improving learning and skill transfer through MR-enabled training environments, (2) evaluating instructional design factors that influence learning outcomes, and (3) synthesizing DTs to optimize ergonomics and work processes. The project will focus on machine assembly tasks and use statistical analysis to quantify the impacts of different instructional designs on worker performance, safety, and efficiency. This research seeks to advance scalable, ergonomic training systems that address the need for a skilled and adaptable workforce in the Industry 4.0 era.