INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Quantum3D Inc.
Ross Q. Smith
Co-Founder and President
Quantum3D Inc.
Q: Who is Quantum3D, Inc. and what has been the company’s primary focus since its founding?
A: Quantum3D is a leading provider of valueadded, COTS, open architecture, realtime visual computing software, systems and solutions to military and commercial prime contractors, OEMs and R&D organizations. We were founded in 1997 and we have established ourselves as an innovator in visual computing for the institutional visual and sensor simulation and training, embedded and deployable training and the operational embedded visual computing markets.
Q: What is Quantum3D’s background, especially when it comes to providing services for military training?
A: Quantum3D is a COTS product company that provides support services for its products. Our AAlchemy was the first COTS PC-IG with the right stuff for widespread success in both OTW and sensor simulation for military and commercial ground vehicle, flight, gunnery, ATC, ships bridge, weapons systems and sensor simulators and trainers. We sold thousands of AAlchemy channels on major 30 Hz programs including UK CATT, AGTS, TSS, F-15 CTSS, etc. Since then, we have developed a more advanced COTS PC-based IG, Independence, that has been adopted on 60 Hz programs like JSF ACS, F-22 ACS, Apache EDS, P-3C TORT, TH-57C FIT, LSOT, B-2 PES, etc.
In 1999, we delivered our first embedded visual computing subsystems— for avionics on the F-18. This led us to develop advanced embedded visual computing systems and software for operational and embedded training programs and today we’re now a leading provider of these products that are now found on numerous ground vehicle and dismounted infantry embedded trainers.
Q: What services and products are you specifically targeting to the military user?
A: Most Q3D products for the military training community are dual use COTS— designed for both commercial and military applications:
• Independence® (IDX)—Advanced, Open Architecture, PC-Based IG Solution for high-fidelity, 60 Hz visual and sensor simulation and training applications. IDX supports standards like CIGI, NPSI, etc. and is optimized for the most advanced training, mission rehearsal or engineering simulation applications. Independence’s unique scalable architecture supports up to 256 precision synchronized GPUs per IG (ideal for 20-20 acuity applications) while isolating enduring IG technology from rapidly changing PC components—enabling tech insertion more readily than other IGs.
• QUEST— 16-bit, physics-based sensor simulation technology that is a companion for our IDX IGs.
• GeoScapeSE—low-cost geospecific databases for Q3D IGs including CONUS, Europe and the World with 10m and 15m background imagery and detailed AOIs with 1m and 5m imagery.
• Facets —high fidelity realtime 3D models that are available in OpenFlight, CDB, SE Core and other optimized formats.
• CatalystSE DBGS—which combines popular 3rf party and Quantum3D COTS tools in a low-cost system optimized for developing or maintaining geospecific databases for Q3D IGs
• Thermite—the first COTS tactical visual computer optimized for vehicle-based and manwearable embedded and deployable immersive training
• ExpeditionDI—the first COTS, untethered, immersive, manwearable training platform for deployed, dismounted infantry training and mission rehearsal.
Q: Could you talk about the company’s position as an industry leader in visualization and training system development?
A: Quantum3D is known as an innovator in COTS realtime visualization products. Our Independence is one of the highest fidelity IG solutions available and is widely deployed on mission critical programs around the world. GeoScapeSE and Facets synthetic environment products are also well known for their fidelity and value with deployment on numerous mission critical programs. In embedded training, Q3D is the market leader with deployment on virtually every U.S. Army and USMC vehicle where embedded training is deployed or in trials and with PEO STRI and RDECOM STTC related to ExpeditionDI-based man-wearable immersive training.
Q: What does the future have in store for Quantum3D?
A: We continue to see the requirements for increasing fidelity in aviation. With programs like F-16 MTC requiring 20-20 acuity, we’re fortunate to have perhaps the only IG that can support such requirements today. IDX systems and GeoScapeSE databases deployed at Lockheed Martin Marietta for the F-22 ACS and our recent exhibit at InfoComm 2007 with JVC where we demonstrated an IDX 3000 integrated with a 12 megapixel JVC D-ILA LCOS projector clearly shows that 20-20 acuity can be done today with Q3D COTS technology. And with tech insertion on our side, we believe that Q3D is well positioned to be a key player as the industry moves towards increasing fidelity.
We also see significant potential in embedded training. We routinely advance Thermite via tech insertion with the latest mobile technologies, which narrows the gap between embedded and institutional training. In man-wearable training, ExpeditionDI’s unique support for both gaming and conventional simulation software, coupled with tech insertion for key components, means that as the market for un-tethered, man-wearable training solution grows, we continue to have the world’s best platform to grow with it. ♦