Innovations in training in the handling of non-lethal electroshock weapons include the use of VR technologies to develop various realistic scenarios for apprehending suspects. We'll tell you how everything works in this blog article "WEAPONS AND TECHNOLOGY".

VR EXERCISES ON HANDLING TASER STUN GUNS

TASER electroshock devices are often used by U.S. police officers to detain aggressive or dangerous suspects without using lethal force. More than 7,000 of the 18,000 (or 39%) police departments in the United States are armed with stun guns. Police officers take training courses in working with weapons and in conflict resolution, which are helped by tools such as VR technology.

History of the use of Tasers by the US police

The US police began using TASER (now AXON) electroshock devices in the early 1990s. These devices are designed to temporarily incapacitate suspects, allowing police officers to control the situation without using firearms. TASER has become the most well-known manufacturer of electroshock weapons on the international market, and since then stun guns have become a standard part of police equipment in many police departments in the United States and some European countries, and the name of the device itself has become a household name synonymous with the word "stun gun."

Experience shows that tasers can be an effective means of controlling aggressive behavior of offenders. Taser stun guns allow police officers to stop armed offenders or people under the influence of alcohol or drugs without resorting to lethal force (firearms). However, the effectiveness of the device may vary depending on various factors, including the distance to the target and the thickness of clothing, which may prevent the electrodes from contacting the human body. Constant training is necessary to make sure that electroshock weapons are used as effectively as possible.

TASER Stun Gun Virtual Training – US Police Training

Police in the United States have strictly defined protocols for the use of stun guns. Before use, officers should assess the situation and make sure that the use of a taser is appropriate and safe. This includes assessing the health status of the alleged perpetrator to rule out the possibility of  causing him harm. Training to use electroshock weapons is one of the important parts of police training. In addition to exercises with real TASER stun guns, virtual simulations have been conducted in recent years to help police officers practice decision-making skills in various conditions without wasting remote cartridges and the resourse of electroshock devices.

Axon, well known for its tasers, is actively developing a training program for police officers using virtual reality technology. This training helps police officers to better respond in real situations and make the right decisions in a matter of seconds, minimizing the need to use lethal means - firearms.

Police officers train using virtual reality glasses and controllers, as well as a specialized "stun gun"- a controller in shape of the Taser weapon - that transmits signals about the use of the device and gives feedback to the operator and the instructor. This equipment is compact and allows to conduct training in any convenient location. The portability of the program greatly facilitates training, as it is not tied to large police academies. In addition, training can be organized so that instructors and police officers are located in different places, communicating and receiving feedback online.

Such training helps police officers better prepare for real situations that may occur on duty, and to resolve them with the help of non-lethal police weapons. The "traditional" format of the exercise with electroshock devices involves only shooting at a stationary target to familiarize oneself with the weapon. Through virtual reality training, police officers learn how to shoot at a moving target, adapt their actions to the level of aggression of various suspects, and can immediately assess the accuracy of the cartridge's harpoons hitting the target. Thanks to VR training, about 350 officers from one department can train during each shift, including night shifts.

The more flexible training tools the police have, the more optimally their working hours will be allocated, which will help police officers to do their job efficiently.