VISUALIZATION

Fakespace Systems announced today that it has completed integration of ten networked visualization systems at Boeing’s new Virtual Warfare Center (VWC) in St. Louis. The result of more than two years of years of planning by Boeing and Fakespace’s professional services team, the VWC is a high tech research facility that gives Boeing engineers critical insight into the physical and psychological reactions of the operators who use Boeing equipment in different mission scenarios. More than 21 miles of cabling connect over 900 powered devices including Boeing’s reconfigurable flight and weapon simulators, 6 PowerWalls, 4 PLEX theaters and a myriad of audio and video support equipment. The simulation and oversight configuration of the VWC is the result of evolved concepts. Two floors of the VWC are identically equipped and can operate independently or as one linked defense simulation. A simulation run involves blue (allied) and red (opposing) forces whose mission scenarios are controlled by 'white room' overseers. Activities of blue, red and white participants are viewed in the main theater, in real-time, by Boeing engineers and customers. Then, central conference facilities are positioned to overlook the main theaters. According to Mr. John Pendleton, New Programs Manager at the VWC, the origin of this center goes back 15 years ago and technology has evolved to allow more network-centric research. Over the years, Boeing realized that the best way to understand and clarify user requirements is to create 'operator in the loop' simulations. "Customers and their users can't always articulate what it is they want. When users are in the simulators at the VWC, they often vocalize or perform solutions to their own problems," said Pendleton. "Then, in the theater, operator simulations can be seen and heard in real-time, allowing customers to participate with Boeing engineering in the analysis and design process. This is especially valuable since Boeing does so much custom engineering." Fakespace's design team worked closely with Boeing's engineers, facilities staff and architects to design the rooms, select technology and plan the implementation to meet Boeing's exacting requirements. Each blue and red command team 'bunker' has a 6' x 8' PowerWall display that affords a high resolution, tactical overview of battlefield operations with the commanders linked via audio and video to the simulator operators. In the white room, a three-channel PLEX theater gives the neutral overseers video and data views of both team's activities via simultaneous, multi-image display capability. The white room also has control connectivity to allow influencing the simulated engagement for testing of new scenarios at will. The blue, red and white command rooms are all highly reconfigurable to allow for new equipment or testing of command system configurations. In the main theater, a three-channel Fakespace PLEX is used to display real-time windows into the overall networked simulations. Live video, audio and activity statistics from each room are choreographed by an AV-director who manages ten, 20" LCD monitors and controls the signal feeds and the theater environment via a 15" touch panel. Each seat in the theater has speakers and a microphone with audio reinforced to balance levels to normal conversational tone across the room. In total, there are almost 8,000 connections between all the simulation equipment and review rooms within the VWC. "We are very proud to have worked with Boeing to design and develop the Virtual Warfare Center as a critical new tool in evaluating people, systems, and equipment in a very high-fidelity simulation environment, said Chris Clover, President and CEO of Fakespace Systems Inc. "This state-of-the-art facility will provide critical insights into networked battlefield operations that will result in the deployment of superior technology for our forces." In networked warfare, aircraft, infantry, and naval services are all connected, so Boeing includes operators from each service in its simulations because all services impact the scenarios faced by Boeing customers. The simulator rooms can emulate the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System plus Aegis, Patriot and other air defense systems for blue and red forces. Six reconfigurable cockpit simulators can represent F15, F/A 18 and F/A-22 aircraft. Other simulators in remote Boeing locations can be connected via Boeing's LabNet high bandwidth network. Selected customer sites can also be included, up to 20 simulators at one time. "All data from the simulations are recorded to allow good thought on the problem and better solutions," according to Pendleton. "Each simulation generates 30 to 40 GB of data and analysis could take weeks to months in order to find the right answers." A typical simulation can take up to one week to run with four to twelve tests within that week, each requiring an after-action review. While these simulations can have an impact on equipment design, the ultimate purpose of the VWC is to study the psychological and behavioral changes the weapons operator or commander will make given new capabilities and new scenarios. By running Conops and Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTP) simulations, operator reaction, communication and preparedness can be closely examined. For example, Boeing customers may request extended radar range so Boeing can simulate this capability to discern whether or not there truly is value in this new capability; how would three minutes more advanced notice change the way an operator communicates with his wingman and how it affects the response to the potential threat? Another example may be how an operator may change flight behavior and decisions if 1,000 more pounds of fuel was available in the aircraft. According to Mr. Pendleton, the center's real purpose is realized in the PLEX theaters. "The angled, theater-like format of the three screens creates a more comfortable, collaborative environment and facilitates discussion. Small simulations may involve as few as six viewers while after-action reviews can involve forty to sixty people." The 4800 x 1200 resolution PLEX configuration allows multiple signal inputs to be easily viewed at one time. Viewers can expand the image from one simulator to fill an entire screen or combine multiple video feeds and data across one or more screens. High quality audio feeds from each simulator and the command rooms are also piped in so operator conversations can be associated with their actions because, "when something surprising happens, the operator comments are very useful," said Pendleton. The theater allows all this eavesdropping without interfering with the simulation. At the same time, data for operations analysis including systems status, operator performance statistics and test results can be reviewed and recorded. Mr. Pendleton explains the reason for the sophistication of the center by indicating, "This isn't trivial or easy stuff. There are very subtle differences when doing things in a warfare environment. You want people to pay attention to the media available and the data, not to the inadequacies of the presentation technology or thought that went into it." The value of the simulation and review capability is readily justified. Decisions made are related to new technology being used in the overall force structure. Boeing's actions can lead to the funding of new technologies and lessons learned at the VWC can determine whether or not some requirements are included in funding requests. The results of simulations can help decide if operator training for equipment or a particular operation should be made more extensive. Even the impact on operator manuals can be affected. "Advanced simulation can be as effective as live testing in pointing out program problems and measuring the value of a program to the end-users," said Pendleton. "In the end, this will impact whether are we helping or not helping the operator -- the person who will move from simulation to live scenario."