SDS International recently delivered a PC-based, C-130 Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Simulator under a Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program titled “Military Utility of Directed Energy Weapons” initiated in support of ongoing ATL Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) efforts. The SBIR focused on directed energy weapons with an objective to conceive and develop an innovative modeling tool that incorporates the diverse methods of employment and transformational effects achievable with emerging weapons to optimize weapon applications.

 

To achieve that objective, SDS International’s Advanced Technologies Division, working as a subcontractor to Schafer Corporation, used SDS’ low-cost, high-fidelity LiteFlite® Reconfigurable Simulator as a platform to develop a high-fidelity simulation of the ATL ACTD aircraft. The simulator includes ATL-specific C-130 consoles and cockpit instruments for the pilot, ATL weapon system operator and test-coordinator stations; high-fidelity C-130 aero package and autopilot functionality; a highly-realistic flight environment; Electro-Optical pod functionality including multiple target tracking modes and simulation of the ATL target tracking system; DIS-based voice radio communications; and advanced synthetic camera view functionality to improve overall situational awareness. A key component of the overall solution is Schafer Corporation’s ISSAC software system, that was integrated into LiteFlite® to provide laser kill-time estimation and damage assessment modeling. The simulator employs SDS’ AAcuity® PC-IG to generate highly realistic out-the-window and infrared sensor scenes.

 

The resultant PC-based simulator provides a robust ATL research and development environment as evidenced by its successful use at the USAF Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC) while participating in the Advanced Concept Event II (ACE II), and during the Joint Virtual Training Special Event (JVTSE) demonstration conducted during I/ITSEC’05. The successful development of the PC-based C-130 ATL simulation capability further demonstrates the proven versatility and usefulness of SDS’ low-cost, LiteFlite® Reconfigurable Simulation product line.

SDS International (SDS) has been tasked to provide additional capabilities to the SDS-produced PC-based MQ-1 Training System (TS) recently delivered to the USAF’s 311th Performance Enhancement Directorate, Brooks City-Base, Texas. SDS International’s Advanced Technologies Division, Orlando, Florida delivered a MQ-1 version of its low-cost, high-fidelity PC-based LiteFlite® Reconfigurable Simulator, named the MQ-1 TS, to Brooks earlier in the summer. The MQ-1 TS incorporates a high-fidelity MQ-1 aerodynamics package (including critical landing/turbulence/control-delay affects); various head-up-displays (HUDs); and Electro Optical/IR Sensor displays portrayed on high-fidelity terrain scenes provided by SDS’ AAcuity® PC-IG. The system also includes an operator control station with fully functioning head-down-display (variable information tables and menu button interfaces), map tracking displays, record/playback capabilities, and data-capture/analysis capabilities. MQ-1 TS provides a realistic environment to support USAF aerospace research efforts to assess the unique physiological, psychological, cognitive, and environmental stresses inherent in Remotely Piloted Aircraft operations.

 

Due to the success of the MQ-1 TS program, SDS received a contract modification to provide additional capabilities, including a series of add-on HUDs (the MQ-1 sensor operator HUD, the MIL-STD 1787 I-HUD, and a novel new HUD aimed at improving pilot situational awareness during landing and after touchdown operations) plus additional autopilot functionality to support selection and use of typical MQ-1 circular and loiter patterns. SDS’ MQ-1 TS will also support planned eye-tracker research activities.

SDS International recently delivered a PC-based MQ-1 Simulator to the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) Brooks City-Base, San Antonio, Texas. The MQ-1 version of SDS’ PC-Based LiteFlite® Reconfigurable Flight/Space Simulators will be used by AFMS’s 311th Performance Enhancement Directorate to investigate human-system integration/performance issues as they relate to MQ-1 operations/safety.

 

The Air Force has been assessing the impact of, and possible mitigation strategies for, the unique physiological, psychological, cognitive, and environmental stresses inherent in remotely piloted aircraft operations. However, the lack of a flexible simulation environment has imposed a significant barrier to those efforts. To help alleviate that barrier, SDS International’s Advanced Technologies Division, Orlando, Florida developed the MQ-1 version of its low-cost, high-fidelity LiteFlite® Reconfigurable Simulator. The resultant MQ-1 simulator, which uses SDS’ AAcuity® PC-IG for the out-the-window/sensor scenes, includes a high-fidelity aero package; a highly-realistic flight environment (particularly regarding weather, wind and turbulence effects); fully functional MQ-1 Pilot HUD and MIL-STD Pilot I-HUD; tracker (e.g. map) display; and both status and command head-down-displays with over 30 Variable Information Tables and full menu of command buttons.

 

The resultant PC-based simulator provides a robust environment for human factors research. In addition, by preserving other key LiteFlite® capabilities, such as DIS /HLA connectivity, use of SDS’ GeoSource-RTB™rapid terrain generator, and the ability to operate on COTS PCs/laptops, the simulator also presents an affordable MQ-1 training system for use in individual/team training and mission rehearsal.

SDS International (SDS) will support FATS Inc. on a recently awarded Government of Singapore contract by providing advanced Image Generation (IG) capabilities with state of the art sea-based virtual training solutions at the new Integrated Tactical Training Center (ITTC) for the Police Coast Guard (PCG). The new ITTC capabilities include two Firing Simulation Trainers that are motion platform-based training systems designed for sea-based individual, collective and tactical training. The ITTC will have five Boat Tactical Trainers (BTT) designed to support training of navigation and boat handling for each of the PCG's six ship types. It will also include integrated command and control simulation capabilities and extensive briefing and debriefing facilities.

 

The work will be performed by SDS International’s Advanced Technologies Division, Orlando, Florida as part of the ongoing strategic SDS/FATS alliance aimed at maintaining FATS’ position as a recognized leader in virtual training solutions through use of high-fidelity, PC-based Image Generation. As the standard for FATS products, SDS’ PC-based AAcuity® IG software provides the high-fidelity visualization capabilities needed to ensure cost-effective training across a wide spectrum of training applications. For this contract, AAcuity® will support visual system requirements that include high-fidelity databases, visual/thermal scenes, extensive 3D features (trees, buildings, ships, etc), various weapons/special effects (craters, etc.), weather effects (time of day, haze, mist, rain clouds and patchy fog), and multiple sea-states/water effects including wavelets, oil-spills, and integration with sophisticated mathematical wave models.