# Bob Ferris | Engineering More Effective Training Hardware & Simulators for Law Enforcement & Military

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-03-03
- Length: 54m
- Episode: 9
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/Bob-Farris-engineering-training-hardware/

## Summary

Bob Ferris, co-CEO of VirTra, explains how his company pivoted from entertainment VR to law enforcement and military simulators following 9/11, leveraging early expertise in immersive technology. He details the engineering behind their 300-degree simulators, which use high-definition video, V-author branching software, and mechanical recoil kits powered by compressed air to simulate realistic firearm dynamics. Ferris emphasizes the importance of 'threat fire' systems that deliver electric impulses to simulate return fire, aiming to replicate the psychological stress and physiological responses of real-life incidents. The episode highlights VirTra's focus on creating best-in-class training tools that improve officer safety and decision-making under pressure.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor#t=0) Introduction: Being an Engineer Circle of Excellence
- [3:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor#t=181) Bob Ferris Background and Early Career at Ferris Productions
- [13:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor#t=830) Traits of Great Engineers and Hiring for Integrity
- [20:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor#t=1219) Pivoting to VirTra and Developing 360-Degree Simulators
- [30:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor#t=1832) Simulation Effectiveness and Live Fire Limitations
- [40:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor#t=2415) Mechanical Engineering of Recoil Kits and Threat Fire Systems
- [43:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor#t=2612) Content Creation, Actors, and Scenario Design
- [48:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor#t=2887) Joy in Engineering and Company Frustrations

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- VirTra (company)
- Ferris Productions (company)
- V-author (other)
- threat fire (product)
- recoil kits (product)
- CO2 (material)
- scuba air (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Reimagining The Future of Aviation Training with Ted Slusher, founder & CEO of Silent Crown](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tough-tech-vets/2024-11-25-reimagining-the-future-of-aviation-training-with-ted-slusher-founder-ceo-of-sile) (Tough Tech Vets)
- [A biometric smart gun with Kai Kloepfer of Biofire](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-05-a-biometric-smart-gun-with-kai-kloepfer-of-biofire) (How I Built This)
- [How Simulation Technology is Reshaping Product Design w/ Dr. Masha Petrova](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [An Interview with Simone Giertz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-01-13-an-interview-with-simone-giertz) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Scott Driscoll - Impacable Interdisciplinary Inventor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-02-05-an-interview-with-scott-driscoll-impacable-interdisciplinary-inventor) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-03-bob-ferris-engineering-more-effective-training-hardware-simulators-for-law-enfor. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.