US Air Force Combat System Officers are to use mixed reality MetaVR based Virtual Reality Scene Generator software when training in the T-1A Jayhawk.
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Press Release, Brookline, 13 August 2019: MetaVR’s Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) has been integrated into the US Air Force T-1A Jayhawk twin-engine jet trainer aircraft as part of an embedded training device to provide a simulated mixed reality Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) training capability to the aircraft.
The US Air Force’s Combat Systems Officer training station at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, FL, has purchased 49 MetaVR VRSG licenses which will be installed on 21 T-1A Jayhawk training aircraft at the base. VRSG forms part of the T-1A Combat System Officers Training System (CSOTS) embedded training device for the aircraft, which is used to train students in the operation of EO/IR sensors. VRSG generates the visuals for the system, resulting in a mixed reality training experience for trainees that combines simulated and live environments.
In-flight EO/IR training is carried out using a generic simulated sensor model similar to the MX-20. A total of 15 flight paths between North Carolina and Louisiana can be flown during training exercises, with correlated views rendered on MetaVR’s SE CONUS ++ terrain. The system is integrated with a third party computer-generated/semi-automated forces application so that students ‘see’ targets inserted into the simulated view. These targets – buildings, ground vehicles or other aircraft – are models from MetaVR’s model libraries.
“The
training environment is truly mixed reality – students looking out
the aircraft window see real-world locations that correlate with the
simulated sensor views of MetaVR’s geospecific 3D terrain rendered
in VRSG software,” Garth Smith, President of MetaVR said. “The
major benefit here is that the students obtain maximum training value
by flying a real platform and benefiting from having a sensor view
that correlates to their actual geographic location.”
The
sensor simulation approach helps reduce overall training costs to the
US Air Force by providing an alternative to more expensive actual
EO/IR sensors. Two VRSG licenses are installed on each of the 21
aircraft. One VRSG display is located in front with co-pilot, the
other is situated behind where the student sits. In addition to the
aircraft-based training system, VRSG is used on a ground-based
trainer to increase student’s familiarization, and to provide the
ability to play back training missions in a debrief setting.
“VRSG
is used to teach students various techniques and theories related to
the use of the EO/IR sensor equipment in a simulated environment,
with targets inserted into the simulated view – something that
would be cost prohibitive to recreate in the real world,” Smith
added.
All US Air Force CSO Training is consolidated at NAS
Pensacola under the 479th Flying Training Group Air Education and
Training Command unit. The T-1A CSOTS is the first course of a 1.5
year-long CSO training course. After the T-1A course, students go on
to EW classroom training on the T25 Simulator for Electronic Combat
Training, a classified system which also uses VRSG; followed by
training on the T-6A Texan II trainer aircraft.
