ETACS 2026 User Tests

From 18-20 March 2026, the ETACS project team in cooperation with 905th Centre of Specialized Combat Support in Nováky and Slovak Armed Forces Academy of General Milan Rastislav Štefánik conducted a testing of the ETACS system in the settings of a real EOD course. In order to understand how useful the ETACS application really is in practice, we set up a simple comparison between traditional teaching and VR-based learning. During this event there were present also members of the development team from 4Experience – Polish VR company responsible for the software development of the ETACS project.

On day one, participants were introduced to the VR system in order to get familiar with controls and movement, followed by a lecture on basic EOD equipment and procedures used by operators. On the second day, participants were split into two groups. One group learned through a standard PowerPoint lesson, while the other used the VR application. Afterwards, both groups carried out a simulated EOD task on training dummies to apply what they had learned. The aim was to directly observe differences in behavior, understanding, and performance.

Throughout the sessions, researchers closely observed how participants interacted with both methods. They also collected detailed feedback through surveys to capture user experience and reactions. 

The testing clearly showed that VR has strong potential as a training tool. Overall feedback was positive, with high satisfaction and engagement, although some participants struggled initially with controls or experienced minor discomfort.

Photo, text: 1LT David SLATKOVSKY, SVK-A