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INTRODUCTION TO THE CONFERENCE

G. V. Amico

Director of Engineering

Naval Training Equipment Center

The theme of this year’s conference, “Readiness Through Simulation,” is fitting since it emphasizes the vital role that training, and particularly training equipment, plays in a peacetime environment.  This theme not only permits us to objectively assess capabilities and shortcomings of the inventory of training equipment, but also enables us to project capabilities of future systems.  While previous conferences have placed emphasis on product improvement and training effectiveness of future training systems, I plan to assess the capabilities of training systems already in the inventory which are located at formal schools and fleet activities.  This evaluation of the inventory will also focus attention on those factors, which could improve the training effectiveness and supportability of these systems.

First, I would like to spend a few moments presenting information on the capabilities, which exist in the present inventory.  This training capability is achieved through a Navy/Marine Corps inventory of $683 million of training equipment representing 2,844 trainers with an acquisition value of over $1,000 each.  I have translated the extensive utilization data which are collected and processed on 290 of the major devices by the Naval Training Equipment Center for the chief of Naval Operations into another domain; namely, that of equivalent operational training, including the magnitude of threat and number of simulated weapons which are fired in synthetic training exercises.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT OF A SHIP HANDLING SIMULATOR

T. C. Hutchison, M. J. Kirby, and W. Zdan

Sperry Systems Management

The U. S. Merchant Fleet is an essential element of our commerce and defense.  American Flag Vessels operate under very stringent regulations governing vessel safety and the protection of life at sea.  However, collisions and groundlings involve a significant number of vessels each year.  This constitutes a problem, which warrants an organized effort toward solution.

Research to identify causes and define solutions to problems such as collisions and groundings is a natural application for simulation.  The conditions of an experiment can be controlled, and results observed more accurately than if actual vessels were used.  Study variables can be changed over wide ranges.  New equipments and procedures can be investigated more easily and quickly in a simulator than in the real world.  Potential risk situations can be investigated without endangering either the “own ship” or other traffic.  Also, the cost of simulation is generally much less than the cost of a comparable study using full-scale ships in an actual harbor or seaway.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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GENERATION OF AUDIO SIGNALS FOR SONAR SIMULATION/STIMULATION WITH DIGITAL TECHNIQUES

Morris H. Stephenson and Forrest D. Suchey

Honeywell, Marine Systems Division

Sonar signals are conventionally divided into two categories:  (1) shaped, broadband components, such as ambient, ship flow and propeller cavitation noises, and (2) narrowband components, including machinery noise, echoes, and reverberations.  This paper will explain how Honeywell uses digital data processing to generate these signals for use in sonar trainers.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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A SYSTEM ORIENTED BENCHMARK FOR TRAINING SIMULATORS

P. S. Babel and Dr. M. L. Birns

Aeronautical Systems Division

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

An important task in the development of training simulators is determining the computing system that is adequate for the computational task required.  The definition of the simulator computational system as well as ensuring its adequacy has been rendered more difficult by the increasing complexity of available computer systems, the ever changing computer systems market and the growing sophistication of the training simulator computation requirement.

Several selection tools have been previously available, but are generally CPU rather than system oriented.  Since these computer selection tools do not address simulation-processing parameters, they are of limited utility in selecting computer systems for this application.  Hence, the Air Force is striving to develop a computational system selection technique which is based on training simulator requirements and is flexile enough to be used in the various types of computational systems presently found in training simulators.  The tool required is a system benchmark, which will measure the total capability of the computational systems.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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INCORPORATION OF DIGITAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS

IN THE B-1 TRAINING SIMULATOR

O. R. Moyen-Van Slimming

Aeronautical Systems Division

The B-1, which is intended to replace the B-52 in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) inventory, has several simulator requirements, ranging from study carrels to full mission simulators.  The Aircraft has a sophisticated avionics package, similar to that in the FB-111.  It controls the navigation, weapon delivery and defensive functions for the aircraft.  It utilizes a number of analog and digital computing devices whose functions have an impact on the simulator.  A detailed analysis of the avionics system was accomplished in order to identify the problems that may be encountered in fulfilling the avionics function requirements for the crew training simulator and indicate which approach(es) to implementing the avionics functions would be most cost effective over the life cycle of the B-1 simulator.  There are several simulator requirements which have no equivalents in the aircraft.  One such requirement is the capability to freeze the mission, usually with the intent to reset the simulated aircraft to another position or to instruct the crew concerning a portion of the mission without their having to concentrate on aircraft status.  Another such requirement is parameter freeze, i.e., and the ability to freeze certain parameters so that the crew can concentrate on other tasks.  These requirements represent a definite challenge to the implementation of avionics functions in the simulator.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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AIR-TO-SURFACE FULL MISSION SIMULATION BY THE ASUPT SYSTEM

Eric G. Monroe

Systems Engineering Branch, United States Air Force

Human Resources Laboratory, Flying Training Division, Williams Air Force Base

Air-to-surface weapons delivery is one realm of visual flight simulation that has been rather neglected until recent investigations were made by the USAF to determine the state-of-the-art in this area.  As part of this investigation (Project 2235, Air-to-Ground Visual Evaluation), the Advanced Simulator for Undergraduate Pilot Training (ASUPT) system was expanded to include the additional capabilities required performing air-to-surface weapons delivery.  Evaluations of the various systems under consideration have shown the ASUPT computer image generation approach to air-to-surface visual simulation to be the most viable.  This paper summarizes the engineering modifications made to the ASUPT system for Project 2235 and presents the operational capabilities of the new system configuration.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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AN AIR TRANSPORTABLE PROGRAMMABLE AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT SIMULATOR

Richard J. Heintzman

United States Air Force, Aeronautical Systems Division

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

The demand for increasing use of flight simulators within the military has led to requirements for broader application and more efficient utilization.

The use of mobile simulators is by no means new to either the Air Force or Navy.  Both services have used such devices effectively for years; the Air Force units being mounted in railcars and the Navy units being trailerized for highway transportation.

Current mobile simulators are limited to instrument flight simulation.  The Air Force during the 1960s added visual attachments; however, this effort was unsuccessful.  Recent advancements in mini-computers, microprocessors, and in computer image generation (CIG) make mobile simulators in general and visual mobile simulators in particular more feasible.

Aerial combat simulation is potentially a high payoff application of mobile simulation.  This paper attempts to define a minimal cost, low-risk approach to Air Transportable Programmable Air-to-Air Combat Simulators (ATPAACS).

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THE UNDERGRADUATE PILOT TRAINING-INSTRUMENT FLIGHT SIMULATOR (UPT-IFS) VISUAL/FLIGHT SYSTEM

Thomas S. Melrose

Aeronautical System Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

The USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training-Instrument Flight Simulator (UPI-IFS) System design combines several state-of-the-art improvements that promise to provide a highly realistic and effective training alternative to actual flight training.  A significant part of the UPT-IFS system is its Visual Subsystem and its relationship to the total simulator complex.  Limitations of previous visual systems dictated the need for establishing minimum image quality requirements and associated test procedures for the UPT-IFS system.  These included the utilization of image detail criteria in terms of image contrast as a function of resolution levels of modulation transfer function (MIF), the employment of raster transformation to achieve the required low eye-height, the use of a high resolution color Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) in an infinity image display, optimized terrain modeling, and depth-of-field criteria.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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VERISIMILITUDE TESTING–

A NEW APPROACH TO THE FLIGHT TESTING OF AIR FORCE SIMULATORS

Major James A. Richmond, USAF, Aeronautical Systems Division

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

The purpose of this paper is to explain the mechanics and rationale of an improved approach to simulator flight testing that the Air Force has been taking with its most recent simulator procurement.  The goals have been to fly and test the simulator so as to identify problems that it may have had in performance and handling qualities.  Problem identification has been done in a scientific manner and “tweaking” has been avoided.  The test method that has been developed and used, I call verisimilitude testing.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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EVALUATION OF THE SYNTHETIC FLIGHT TRAINING SYSTEM

(DEVICE 2B24) FOR MAINTAINING IFR PROFICIENCY AMONG EXPERIENCED PILOTS

D. O.Weitzman, M. Fineberg, H. Ozkaptan

United States Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

and

CW4 G. L. Compton

United States Army, Fort Campbell

Since the early days of flying, flight simulators have been in use and their value has been amply demonstrated.  Flight simulators have evolved from the Link Trainer, which was widely used for pilot training in the Second World War, into precisely engineered devices capable of accurately computing the aerodynamic responses of an airplane to control inputs, and of reproducing realistic cockpit instrument indications for all flight situations.  It was realized, as Adams (1957) points out, that flight simulators have many advantages over the operational situation.  First, the simulator provides its users with greater control over ambient conditions.  Whereas the “real” world is subject to unpredictable variations, a simulator can provide planned variation of various elements of the real situation with unessential elements in the real situation omitted.  Second, the simulator can represent dangerous elements in flight more safely.  Emergency procedures that would be too dangerous to teach in the air may be taught safely in ground-based simulators.  Third, a major advantage offered by simulators is their low operating costs in comparison with the costs of operating aircraft.  For these reasons, simulators continue to play an important role in pilot training during initial acquisition, transition training, and for maintenance of established flying skills.  The importance attached to simulators in meeting training goals is; of course, predicated on the assumption that training given in the simulator will transfer to the aircraft.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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COMBAT READINESS THROUGH ENGAGEMENT SIMULATION

LTC George J. Stapleton, United States Army

Program Manager, Engagement Simulation

US Army Training Support Center, Fort Eustis

For nearly three years the US Army has been experimenting with, refining, and implementing a series of training techniques which employ engagement simulation mechanisms, along with proven instructional models, to improve unit tactical training.  Some see the advent of engagement simulation as merely another step along the Army’s path toward increased realism in training.  Others see engagement simulation as a near perfect simulation of combat, while still others believe engagement simulation is nothing new, and that in one form or another, “we have been doing this kind of thing for years.” Probably none of the foregoing opinions on engagement simulation are entirely right, nor are any totally incorrect.  More properly, the techniques at issue certainly simulate the violent interactions of weapons in combat, although imperfectly, and in so doing add much realism to our tactical training.  While we can point to excellent training with conventional techniques, some of the aspects of engagement simulation are truly new, or are at least substantial revisions of earlier ways of doing things.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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SIMULATION OF A WEAPONS FIRE SIMULATOR MODELED AS AN OPTICAL COMMUNICATION CHANNEL

J. Cormack, B. Petrasko, and R. Phillips

Department of Electrical Engineering, Florida Technological University

and

A. Cannon

Naval Training Equipment Center

This paper presents a method of simulating various noise sources in a Weapons Fire Simulator System that has been modeled as an Optical Communications Channel.  This Weapons Fire Simulator System is composed of laser transmitters mounted on weapons that fire blank cartridges, and laser receivers mounted on targets.  The laser transmitter sends out “kill” beam pulses to the target whenever blank cartridges are fired.  Detection of these pulses at the target signifies a “hit.”  The entire system along with the optical communication channel is simulated in a general-purpose computer program called SCEPTRE.  This analysis package is an efficient means of modeling the communication channel characteristics and determining signal-to-noise ratios as functions of various electrical and physical parameters.  Also the SCEPTRE program is a versatile tool for circuit noise calculations.  The main advantage is a single SCEPTRE run computes the total noise output from a large number of noise sources distributed throughout the circuit.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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TANK DRIVER AND TANK GUNNER TRAINING SIMULATORS

Jean Baradat

LMT Simulators

We are witnessing a growing interest from utilizers in classroom training for tank crews.  Simulators exist, or are being developed, which provide efficient training.  The purpose of this paper is to specify the concept of tank crew training and to isolate the functions of each new member, the features of the simulators to be used for their training.

Analysis of the interworking of the members of a tank crew shows that coordination is provided entirely by the tank commander; there is practically no direct relationship between the gunner and the driver.  It is true that their actions are coordinated–reducing speed, or taking up a suitable firing position–but the information, especially visual, which they individually use and the actions they undertake are either totally independent or only slightly correlated.  Tank crew training can thus be broken down into independent and specialized phases.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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WIDE-ANGLE SCANNED LASER VISUAL SYSTEM

Carl R. Driskel

U.S. Army Office of Project Manager for Training Devices

and

Dr. A. M. Spooner

Redifon Flight Simulation, Limited

An experimental investigation is being conducted to determine the feasibility of using scanned lasers to generate and display real world scenes for military training applications.  The technical objective is to provide high resolution tactical scenes over a continuous wide field of view.

The United States Army and Air force are supporting the development of a breadboard laser camera and display system to investigate the capability of the system and applicability of this approach to military training requirements.  Completion of the breadboard system is scheduled for third quarter 1978.

The prime contractor is American Airlines Incorporated.  Redifon Flight Simulation, Limited, as subcontractor, is conducting the main body of the work, and the Sira Institute, England, is providing expertise on optical and electronic systems.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

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A DATABASE GENERATION SYSTEM FOR DIGITAL IMAGE GENERATION

Arthur P. Schnitzer

The Singer Company, Link Division

In the last ten years, we have witnessed a fortyfold increase in the edge processing capability of real-time digital image generation (DIG) systems.  While it would appear unlikely that the next decade will product another fortyfold increase in capacity, one thing, at least, seems clear.  Like some insatiable science fiction monster, today’s DIG system is devouring databases at a prodigious rate that promises to be ever increasing.  To satisfy this gargantuan demand, as well as the desire of users for more detailed and realistic simulation, greater emphasis will have to be placed on the database generation process.  Indeed, we have already seen the beginnings of this trend in recent procurement specifications.  The DIG for the BF-111 simulator not only specifies a total database storage capacity several times the size of the deliverable database, but also requires the delivery of a database generation facility, thus hinting at the Government’s intent to fill up this spare storage capacity after delivery.  In recognition of the substantial effort required to generate visual simulation databases, there is even a quantitative specification of database generation speed.

This paper is available on the I/ITSEC Compendium CD-ROM.

Order it from I/ITSEC’s Website.