Aviation VR Training Platform

Senior Unity/VR Developer

2 years Team of 5 developers

B2B VR training platform serving global aviation industry clients including Lufthansa, Swissport, DHL, and airlines worldwide

Overview

Architected and delivered 10+ interactive training scenarios for professional aviation ground operations, implementing full-featured simulations of specialized equipment (Highloader, Beltloader, Trepel) with realistic physics, AI systems, and intuitive VR controls.

Technical Stack

Unity 6, URP, DOTS/Entities, Meta XR/OpenXR/PICO SDK, ObiPhysics, Custom Behavior Trees, NavMesh, Contacts Modification API, UniTask/UniRx, DOTween, RootMotion, Addressables

Core Technical Contributions

  • Advanced Physics & IK Systems - Engineered custom inverse kinematics for Highloader lift mechanisms and realistic cargo handling. Implemented Contacts Modification API for accurate belt conveyor physics and roller systems, optimizing integration with Unity DOTS/ECS architecture. Developed rope/cable/hose simulations using Obi Physics for cargo securing and equipment operations.

  • Ground Vehicle Operations - Created comprehensive vehicle control systems supporting multiple input methods (physical USB steering wheels, virtual controls, joysticks) with mixed reality integration via Passthrough API. Researched and implemented motion sickness mitigation techniques including camera vignetting, visual anchoring, velocity constraints, and vehicle stabilization to ensure comfortable extended training sessions.

  • AI & Behavior Systems - Built custom action-based behavior tree framework integrated with DOTS/ECS for NPC drivers and autonomous vehicles. Implemented NavMesh-based navigation with gesture recognition for marshalling interactions, enabling realistic coordination between player and AI-controlled ground crew.

AVIAR VR training solutions deployed in corporate and field environments. Users interact with high-fidelity aircraft simulations, practicing complex procedures that would be costly or dangerous to replicate in real-world conditions.
  • Performance Optimization - Architected ECS system execution pipeline with layered presentation/simulation groups. Implemented Asynchronous SpaceWarp with selective exclusions for fast-moving objects, maintaining target frame rates across Meta Quest and PICO platforms. Utilized Unity Profiler, OVR Metrics Tool, and Meta Quest Developer Hub for performance analysis.

Complex Training Scenarios

  • Pushback Operations - Multi-vehicle coordination with aircraft pushback, trajectory accuracy validation, and NPC interaction systems

  • Highloader Operations - Full cargo loading simulation with physics-based conveyor systems and custom IK solutions

  • Beltloader Integration - AI autopilot systems and automated equipment operations

Business Impact:

Industry First Achievement - Reverse-engineered proprietary USB HID protocols and developed custom Java-Unity driver plugin, delivering the market’s first standalone VR headset application with native force-feedback steering wheel support—a capability unavailable in any competing solution.