Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

MT2 2009 Volume: 14 Issue: 6 (November/December)

 

David Avgikos, president, Digimation, discussed one of two internal projects that will be unveiled at 2009 I/ITSEC.

The company is developing a small-arms training and familiarization module for a federal, non-DoD customer that will be of interest to DoD training commands and other units. The Digimation project moves weapons familiarization beyond legacy interactive computer programs. While current courses typically illustrate the purpose of individual weapon parts and their interaction through the firing sequence, the evolving Digimation course is different from the level of detail it provides. “There is an immense level of detail. Each part looks and behaves like the real thing. We are using a new 3-D rendering engine that makes the parts look very realistic—on an order of magnitude better than similar trainers out there right now,” Avgikos said.

Training and weapons familiarization tasks supported by the module will include field stripping the weapon and other background skills initially needed to safely fire and operate a weapon.

While the engine is initially built to support a course for the Glock 19, other weapons can be dropped into the system as required. Digimation is also part of an industry team that is developing a scenario for incident management—which is evolving to include security planning and training. While partner SP Global’s software steps the prospective incident commander through events, Digimation provides a 3-D graphics backend for a land-based scenario application. “In the demo you will see at I/ITSEC, you move around a full city using 3-D graphics. You can see information about specific locations, and freely move inside extremely realistic interiors of key buildings,” Avgikos concluded.

Rochelle Free: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MÄK and TrianGraphics Partnering Agreement

VT MÄK (MÄK) and TrianGraphics GmbH signed a partnership agreement. As part of this agreement, the latest version of TrianGraphics’ Train3D Builder will support MÄK’s 3-D visualization solution, VR-Vantage, as well as VR-Forces, MÄK’s computer-generated forces tool kit. VR-Forces support is provided via Trian3D Builder’s GDB Export module.

Trian3D Builder is a database generation system for detailed 3-D terrains of all sizes. It enables users to create large-scale terrain areas for real-time applications based on image, height and vector data in a matter of hours. The GDB Export module supports the rapid creation of terrain databases for use in VR-Forces and is fully correlated to the OpenFlight terrain format.

Marc Schlackman: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

M-ATV Training Program Takes Shape

The new MRAP–All Terrain Vehicle’s (M-ATV’s) training program has three rapidly evolving components, Lieutenant Colonel Coll Haddon, program manager, M-ATV, told MT2. Similar to the new equipment training package for previous MRAP class vehicles, operators who are unfamiliar with an MRAP will complete a 40-hour live training course. Similarly, M-ATV maintainers complete their own 40-hour live training course. “This is a course on how to maintain—at the 1020 level—the vehicle,” Haddon clarified.

The PM M-ATV’s office is also collaborating with PEO STRI to develop a common driver’s trainer. “They are looking at deploying that by the November/December time frame,” Haddon pointed out.

A third evolving M-ATV training initiative is the delivery of MRAP egress trainers (MET). Oshkosh, M-ATV prime contractor, is providing 20 cabs for integration into MET platforms.

Jeff Bury: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Marine Corps Small Unit Training Study

The Naval Research Advisory Committee briefed the results of recent studies, including Immersive Simulation for Marine Corps Small Unit Training. Immersive Simulation for Marine Corps Small Unit Training evaluated concepts in immersive training simulation, which could assist Marines in developing complex and intuitive decisionmaking skills while under physical and emotional stress. The brief also examines how immersive simulations, like the Infantry Immersion Trainer, may have the potential to reduce the pre-deployment training time typically required for small unit leaders. NRAC may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (703) 696-4358.

William Ellis: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Presagis USA Acquires Seaweed Systems

Presagis announced that Presagis USA Inc. has acquired long-standing partner Seaweed Systems Inc.

Robert Kopersiewich, vice president, Product and Program Management, Presagis, told MT2, “Our primary focus for the acquisition of Seaweed is to provide tight support between VAPS XT and the SeaWind graphics drivers used in HMI development for airborne systems in the embedded market. That being said, we are beginning to see a real demand for advanced menu-driven displays, live video, sensor, synthetic vision and 3-D applications in the military embedded training market. We see this as an emerging market in which we hope to add value in the years to come.”

With respect to military applications, developers will use the VAPS XT software and SeaWind graphics drivers predominantly for the creation of safety critical applications such as cockpit displays. “Presagis safety critical software flies in dozens of aircraft including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Super Puma, Tiger, and Pilatus PC-21,” Kopersiewich concluded.

Tracey Ades: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Free RTI for HLA Released

The Portico Project announces release of Portico version 1.0, the free, open source, Run Time Infrastructure (RTI) for the defense and IEEE distributed simulation networking standard High Level Architecture (HLA) 1.3.

Development of Portico, especially the final work to achieve version 1.0, was supported by the Australian Defence Simulation Office (ADSO). Commercial support for Portico includes application consulting and technical support from Calytrix Technologies.

“I and many others at Calytrix—and elsewhere—believe that HLA has not been widely adopted outside of military/defense environments at least partly because of the high costs of acquiring the necessary HLA Run Time Infrastructure software,” Damon Curry, international sales manager, Caltrix Technologies, told MT2. He continued, “As an open source HLA RTI, and thus free to everyone, Portico has the potential to greatly expand the use of distributed simulation and training, within defense and in other industries. There have been more than 5,000 downloads of Portico to date.”

Detailed information about Portico, including free download of the software, is available at www.porticoproject.org.

Tim Pokorny: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Service Unit Award for Training Accomplishments

The services’ units are seldom recognized for excellence in training support. A (fourth) Meritorious Unit Citation (MUC) was awarded to the Center for Information Dominance (CID) Corry Station for its noteworthy efforts to advance community training.

The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus awarded the MUC to CID Corry Station for standing up 16 learning sites across the country, training more than 16,000 sailors annually and establishing two brand-new Navy-wide programs: Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online and Navy Center for Language Regional Expertise and Culture.

Sam Kelley: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Chris Wise: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Back to Top