The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has issued a request for information (RFI) on behalf of the Texas Highway Patrol (THP) and Training Operations Division (TOD) for virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) training solutions.
According to the RFI, THP currently trains commissioned personnel on defensive tactics, firearms and less-than-lethal techniques in a traditional classroom setting. The department is requesting VR/AR solutions for realistic training scenarios in a controlled environment.
Proposed training solutions must include de-escalation drills and scenarios, training metric tracking for review, high-quality graphics displaying various hyper-realistic environments, a wide field of view and an intuitive user interface and user experience.
The solution must accommodate a minimum training area of 10 feet by 10 feet and should be easy for DPS staff to move.
The training platform should also allow for custom scenarios and software, allow multiple users to access and communicate within the same scenario and track and record the user’s eye movement for playback purposes.
Associated hardware must be wireless, include responsive and ergonomic controllers for left- and right-handed abilities and include interactive weapons platforms modeled after equipment issued to THP personnel.
More detailed information about RFI No. THP202311130933, including all minimum requirements and requested services, can be found online. The deadline for question submissions is Dec. 7. The due date for responses is Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. Lori Melcher is the point of contact for this RFI.
DPS Requests Information on VR/AR for Training Purposes
The Texas Highway Patrol, which currently trains commissioned personnel in a traditional classroom setting, is requesting VR/AR solutions for realistic training scenarios in a controlled environment.
Photo courtesy of the Bucks County Courier Times.
