Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
MT2 2011 Volume: 16 Issue: 2 (April)
Robot Designed for Real-World Training Simulation
Deakin University’s Centre for Intelligent Systems Research has developed the haptically-enabled universal motion simulator (UMS) for warfighter training and performance analysis.
The 6 DOF robot has customized control algorithms developed by Deakin University in Australia. Additional support for the project came from key partners including the Australian Department of Defense, the Australian Research Council and Rockwell Collins. Enhancing the training experience, Wittenstein aerospace and simulation’s haptic control loading technology is integrated into the design to allow the simulator user to feel completely immersed in the real world training environment.
The UMS is a state-of-the-art platform for training and performance analysis. With serial kinematic interface, two axes of continuous rotation are permitted providing realistic g-force acceleration. Key performance aspects of the Centre for Intelligent Systems Research that are achievable with the UMS include: open loop control for simulation via pre-defined paths and sequences for beginner through to expert training modes; closed loop control through trainee operated input devices, such as cyclic sticks, joysticks, haptic interfaces, steering wheels; intelligent predictive control delivering real-time, robust motion cues for helicopters and airplane simulation.
The UMS was on display during Avalon 2011, the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defense Exposition in March.
Scott Metcalfe
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Fire Software
A-T Solutions Inc., a counterterrorism services and technology firm based in the Tysons Corner area of Vienna, Va., recently launched FireScene, a new digital diagramming software application that will help firefighters and emergency response teams across the country enhance pre- and post-fire operations, training and information sharing.
FireScene is a software diagramming program that helps facilitate and increase the quality of pre-fire planning, training, inspections and structure documentation as well as post-fire information sharing for court submissions, coordination with federal agencies and future training. Specifically, the application allows firefighters to create accurate, specialized diagrams for pre-plans and training. The diagrams can provide a starting point for critiques and review of incidents and also provide arson investigators an important tool to support their work.
FireScene includes an extensive library of intelligent objects that can be used to quickly capture the details of any fire scene. The technology is based on A-T Solutions’ ScenePD, a crash and crime scene diagramming tool developed specifically for officers in the field, and Signature Scene, a field reporting software tool that allows for quick and efficient documentation of criminal acts, accident scenes, inspections or site surveys. They are two of the most widely deployed diagramming solutions currently used throughout federal, state and local law enforcement communities.
Joe Cucchiari
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Visual Interfaces
The Disti Corporation, a provider of advanced graphical user interface technology, announced a new comprehensive visual development software bundle for the embedded community, offering an “out of the box” solution for the rapid development and deployment of visual interfaces utilized in standard and safety critical embedded systems. Industry leaders ALT Software and Green Hills Software have joined with Disti to form this new visual interface bundle for embedded systems (VIBEs), with proven software tools that deliver immediate, cost-effective results.
VIBE includes Disti’s industry leading next generation 3-D human machine interface (HMI) design tools, ALT’s advanced 2-D and 3-D graphics device drivers for embedded systems, and Green Hills’ safety and security certifications for embedded software. Disti’s latest version of GL Studio Embedded will supply developers with the ability to generate code through a consistent and reliable method, eliminating the need for hand coding. Already flying in multiple aircraft, ALT’s embedded OpenGL graphics drivers are certifiable to DO-178B and EUROCAE ED-12B Design Assurance Level A. Green Hills Software contributes the MULTI IDE development tool with sophisticated capabilities that will allow the developer to quickly generate, debug and optimize code.
Certified in a range of industries, Green Hills’ INTEGRITY real-time operating system will set the standard for the safety, security, and reliability of embedded systems. VIBE was officially unveiled at the Europe Avionics show in Munich, Germany in March. After the show, VIBE will be immediately available for embedded and safety critical projects.
Scott Ariotti
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Projection Display
Christie, an innovator in projection displays for simulation and visualization, has been chosen for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) with a revolutionary DLP and LED solution. AMRDEC replaced its aging, conventional lamp-based projectors with six Christie Matrix StIM projectors.
AMRDEC, housed within Redstone Arsenal–“the heart of the Army’s rocket and missile programs,”–is the Army’s focal point for providing research, development, engineering and technology, and services for aviation and missile platforms. The BHIVE is just one of AMRDEC’s capabilities. It’s where cockpit configurations, within engineering analysis cockpits, are evaluated using an outside view of a terrain now powered by six Christie Matrix StIM projectors. The screen provides a 70-degree vertical and 180-degree horizontal field-ofview, with the dome accommodating five cockpit simulators, each representing a different aircraft. The addition of Christie AutoCal and Christie MotoBlend renders a 180-degree, calibrated, seamless scene.
The APEX 2 LAB creates an environment using true-to-life virtual landscapes to evaluate the pilotvehicle interface issues with the proposed cockpit changes. So it is very important to AMRDEC that the outdoor terrain scenes appear as they would in the actual environment and under the same conditions.
This is especially the case when pilots engage in scenarios with highly detailed databases serving as true-to-life visual landscapes. It’s crucial that the out-ofthe cockpit view accurately represents the location where the pilot is flying the mission.
The Christie Matrix StIM projectors have also been performing well during crew station working group meetings (CSWG). These experimental sessions draw on the expertise of many people including engineers, user representatives and operational pilots who remotely observe what the pilot sees inside and outside the cockpit and how the pilot performs. These test factors allow pilots to fly as near-to-real missions as possible.
A typical CSWG lasts up to four consecutive days with the Christie Matrix StIM projectors beaming outdoor images onto the dome seven hours each day.
Dave Kanahele
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Image Projector
Projectiondesign is now shipping the F35 wqxga projector. The projector has nearly double the pixel count of standard HD resolution projectors. This is a great benefit in visualization and simulation, where the emphasis is on fine detail and the accurate rendering of images.
The projector halves the need for projector channels in large visualization systems and reduces maintenance requirements two-fold. In complex systems, the higher resolution enables fewer channels, fewer replacement lamps, less channels to align and half the calibration complexity. The F35 wqxga uses projectiondesign’s RealColor color management suite to further enable the perfect matching of any number of channels.
The F35 wqxga uses the latest DLP technology from Texas Instruments which was developed in conjunction with projectiondesign. The F35 wqxga features a wealth of high performance technology, including newly designed optics and lenses, all of which are invented to achieve increased contrast, color saturation, superior sharpness and focus.
The projection lenses range from 0.8 : 1 up to 4.6 : 1, designed to fit a majority of installations.
The projector’s newly designed signal processing doubles the input bandwidth of any competing projector, making it future proof, and truly compatible with nearly every high resolution input source.
Other key specifications include brightness up to 7500 ANSI lumens–thanks in part to projectiondesign’s patented DuArch dual illumination architecture as well as application specific color wheels, networking and remote asset management.
Mike Raines
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New Simulation Terrain Databases
TerraSim Inc. has announced a new TerraTools process for the automated generation of large area terrain databases that cover hundreds of one-degree cells. Using TerraTools Batch Mode, users can now generate simulation databases that cover very large areas using only a single TerraTools license and workstation. Batch Mode processes run without a user interface and generate detailed timing and process log files to support automated verification and validation for fully unattended large-scale geospatial data processing.
TerraTools-built simulation databases have advanced adaptive terrain surface computation to ensure that databases run smoothly in any supported runtime. Large area databases are developed for terrain efficiency, unlike legacy systems using small block-based construction techniques. This efficiency allows complex exercises with thousands of entities across hundreds of geocells to run with minimal hardware resources.
TerraTools batch mode processing also supports the assembly of large area, geospecific photo-textures for advanced visual simulation. Users can assemble custom processes that utilize any of the TerraTools processing nodes and control them from an external application. These Batch Mode processes utilize the same high-performance multi-threading organization as TerraTools Core—providing the customer with eight parallel processes on a single TerraTools license.
Databases produced using Batch Mode can be correlated across any TerraTools-supported virtual, constructive or serious game runtime. ♦
Amy Super
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