Be Pro Be Proud (BPBP) continues working with Groove Jones to create immersive VR experiences with their mobile tours to recruit the next generation of today’s skilled workforce. This VR experience will be originally part of the Arkansas BPBP Tour and eventually be integrated into other state tours.

The project aims to offer high school students a firsthand look into the world of diesel technology repair as a career by using a Virtual Reality game.

The VR simulation, known as “Truck Tech,” transports players into a realistic truck center facility repair center.

They begin the experience of lifting the front garage door to begin work on the Freightliner Cascadia Sleeper Cab Tractor Trucks.

Participants must step into the cab and turn the truck on.

Within this virtual environment, participants face a series of challenges that mirror real-world diagnostic tests conducted by diesel technicians.

• Challenge 1: Perform a Diagnostics Test outside of the cabin
• Challenge 2: Open the Engine Compartment
• Challenge 3: Perform the Voltmeter Test
• Challenge 4: Inspect Sensor Connectors for Damage
• Challenge 5: Test pins for Replacement
• Challenge 6: Test Ground Wires for Replacement

The game is set in a warehouse facility, providing a realistic backdrop for the tasks at hand.

What sets this project apart is the unparalleled level of interactivity it offers with the Daimler Freightliner truck. Students can engage with vehicular mechanical engineering in a manner that mirrors real-world on-site experiences.

VR allows for the students to take the steps in diesel truck diagnostics and repair in a safe and scaleable setting.

The experience has been gamified, so each task is scored and recorded.

Once completed, the students see a scoreboard highlighting how well they did, the dollars they earned for the work and the potential career roadmap, and average hourly rates for the specific state.

Groove Jones developed experience in Unity, the widely used game development software, and Autodesk Maya, which was used for 3D modeling.

Scaling the Program Over the Years

Groove Jones began working with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce in 2020. They originally wanted to create a platform that included custom SIM VR experiences that were gamified and exemplified the spirit of the Be Pro Be Proud program, which aims to bring a new generation of pride, progress, and professionals to Arkansas’s skilled workforce.

Since then, the program has continued to thrive, and the VR experiences have grown as new states and careers have become the focus. The diesel technology repair experience is the sixth VR experience. It can be found within the BPBP hub, a high school campus, and the surrounding city center that is used for the experiences. Students can select from a variety of available careers.

We recently upgraded all of the experiences, so they are now available in both English and Spanish to meet the needs of the growing audience.

About Be Pro Be Proud

The Be Pro Be Proud program has had over 350,000 visitors, highlighting 116 professions. It connects the next-generation workforce to 319 employers in Arkansas, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Learn more about Be Pro Be Proud and the mobile tour program – http://beprobeproud.org/