Miami University Launches AI-Powered Safety Training Initiative with $1.5M Grant
Miami University launches SIGHT project with a $1.5M grant to enhance manufacturing safety training using AI, VR, and AR.
Key Points
- • Miami University receives a $1.5 million grant for the SIGHT project.
- • The initiative aims to reduce workplace injuries in Ohio's manufacturing sector using AI, VR, and AR.
- • SIGHT will develop VR and AR platforms for personalized hazard recognition training.
- • The project targets the local manufacturing workforce but plans to expand by 2028.
Miami University has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to launch the Safety Immersion and Gamified Hazard Training (SIGHT) project. This initiative is designed to transform safety training for manufacturing workers in Ohio by integrating artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) into personalized and adaptive training modules, aiming to reduce workplace injuries across the sector.
The SIGHT program, set to kick off this month, will particularly focus on developing VR and AR platforms that will help workers enhance their hazard recognition skills and overall job readiness. This project comes as Ohio’s manufacturing sector employs approximately 700,000 individuals, underscoring the need for effective safety training solutions.
Professor Fadel Megahed, a key project leader, emphasized the importance of this initiative stating, "This is a pivotal moment not just for Miami but for the future of Ohio’s industrial safety and competitiveness." The VR platform will leverage generative AI for customized hazard simulations, while the AR coaching system will utilize real-time sensor data feedback for immediate safety guidance. These technologies will be designed to foster accessibility, catering to diverse users, including those who may be multilingual or have disabilities.
The two-year project aims first at local manufacturing settings but intends to extend its offerings to external companies beyond Ohio by 2028, especially benefiting smaller firms that typically lack comprehensive safety training resources. Collaborators such as MaxByte Technologies and MeetKai, Inc. will play essential roles in integrating AR, IoT technologies, and VR development for the project. This ambitious shift away from traditional safety training methods aims to empower workers more effectively against preventable injuries in the manufacturing industry.