Investing in Virtual Reality Technology to Make Firefighting Safer

Breakthrough Victoria is helping to make training safer for firefighters and the environment with its investment in a Victorian company behind the world’s first fully immersive virtual firefighting training system.

Breakthrough Victoria, an investment company established by the Victorian Government to drive innovation in Victoria, today announced it will invest $5 million in FLAIM Systems.

The company has developed an immersive virtual training system that replicates the stress and uncertainty of real-world firefighting situations. From bushfires in remote locations to fires on aircraft, industrial sites and residential properties, FLAIM Systems has created 80 different virtual reality (VR) training scenarios that allow firefighters to train across different situations with no risk to their health or the environment.

VR training reduces firefighters’ exposure to potentially carcinogenic substances in training, like PFAS foam. It also benefits the environment by reducing water consumption, carbon emissions and PFAS foam usage.

The FLAIM Trainer combines a VR headset with haptic technology, creating a kinaesthetic ‘feels-real’ experience by applying force feedback to the user. This includes simulating an operational fire hose and a thermal vest that reproduces the heat firefighters would experience from the direction of the fire.

It also uses innovative real-time data to track performance against training outcomes. This includes task completion time, stress levels and air and water usage. It can also sense where the trainee is moving and looking within the scenario, as well as how they position themselves and interact with virtual objects such as gas meters, electrical boxes, or the fire itself.

With more than 10 million professional and volunteer firefighters globally, this technology has the potential to make training safer for firefighters and the environment around the world.

FLAIM Systems is already working with emergency services agencies, defence and private enterprise in Australia, the USA and UK. Breakthrough Victoria’s investment will support the company to expand its operations internationally and further develop its technology, creating 25 new jobs by 2026.

FLAIM Systems was born out of Deakin University in 2019. Chief Technical Officer and Founding Researcher, Dr James Mullins, was able to apply his knowledge as a third-generation rural Victorian firefighter to his research into robotics engineering and virtual training capabilities.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our community safe. This innovation in virtual reality training will help keep them safe during training and provide the experience they need on the frontline.

We see a real potential for this world-first Victorian technology to be adopted by emergency services agencies around the world, which is exactly what we look for in our investments – innovation that can be commercialised to deliver sustainable returns and make a difference in people’s lives.” 

Breakthrough Victoria Chair, the Hon. John Brumby AO

About FLAIM Systems Pty Ltd

FLAIM Systems has developed the world’s first multi-sensory immersive learning solution for firefighters to replicate the stress and uncertainty of real-world emergency situations safely and cost-effectively in safe virtual environments.

The company’s FLAIM Trainer is the world’s first immersive technology enabled firefighter training solution. FLAIM Trainer combines high fidelity virtual hazardous fire environments, audio, and industry standard equipment to deliver a fully immersive, multi-sensory, physical experience that enables firefighters to train more, learn more and be better prepared for the risks they face when delivering their service to the community.

Workplace Safety: FIRE is the world-leading end-to-end solution for fire safety training. It immerses trainees in a multi-sensory, kinaesthetic experience, using the FLAIM Extinguisher prop, Vive Focus VR headset, a comprehensive library of immersive fire safety scenarios and FLAIM’s world-leading fire behaviour to enhance learner competency, improve organisational compliance and deliver certified training outcomes.

Founded in 2019 and based in Victoria, Australia, today FLAIM Systems continues to pioneer solutions to improve the safety and performance of all those who respond to fire, rescue, and emergency situations.

About Breakthrough Victoria

Breakthrough Victoria is an investment company established in 2021 to manage the Victorian Government’s $2 billion Breakthrough Victoria Fund. It invests in innovation for impact – supporting companies to commercialise new technologies that will create jobs and investment in Victoria and have a positive impact on people’s lives. 

Originally published by Breakthrough Victoria on 29 March 2023