Engineering Competency Assessment through Virtual Reality Simulation and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

This paper presents TecDrone, an innovative educational strategy that integrates Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable authentic assessment of engineering competencies in first-year students. The intervention was implemented in the “Electromagnetic Systems Analysis” course at Tecnológico de Monterrey, where students designed, assembled, and controlled drones in a virtual environment, justifying their technical decisions through interaction with an AI-powered avatar. Three institutional competencies were assessed: decision-making, demonstration of system functionality, and execution of technical actions. The methodology combined quantitative analysis (TAM survey and performance rubric) with qualitative analysis (thematic coding of argumentative responses). Results show significant improvements in students’ understanding of system functionality and their ability to implement technical actions, along with high levels of perceived usefulness, ease of use, and autonomy. The experience proved to be replicable, engaging, and aligned with principles of active learning and authentic assessment. TecDrone emerges as an effective tool for transforming engineering education by bridging theory and practice through simulated environments. Beyond reporting learning outcomes, this study contributes an assessment-oriented VR–AI framework that operationalizes competency-based evaluation through observable performance, decision justification, and system-level reasoning in early-stage engineering education.