Page 34 - Military Technology 12/2018

32 · MT 12/2018 Features

Tim Mahon

New Hands on the Helm at VT MAK

In the 3-2-1 Interview of MT #10, William “Bill” Cole, MT: What are the two principal challenges you face and
new President and CEO of VT MAK, answered our how are you overcoming them?
questions. For your convenience, here they are again. (Photos: VT MAK) B. Cole: First is helping our customers realising the ad-
vantages of the cloud. The defence modelling, simulation
and training community faces some stiff challenges in the
adoption of cloud computing technologies, primarily due
MT: What are the three most important products or services to security constraints. It is true to say, however, that the
you provide? security of cloud computing has come a long way in recent
B. Cole: At VT MAK we provide a full suite of simulation years. The benefits of cloud solutions – including controlled
products that link, simulate and visualise virtual worlds access to a ‘lake of data’, scale and elasticity of computing
within networked synthetic environments. The flagship resources, and access to training at the point of need –
products are VR-Forces – a computer-generated forces have become priorities for our customers. To address this,
simulation application; VR-Engage – a multi-role virtual our developers have ensured that our simulation, network-
simulator; and VR-Vantage with Sensor FX – a visualisation ing, and visualisation products are fully capable of working
tool to render visual and sensor scenes of the virtual world. All these tools in a cloud environment. To prove this, we have deployed a cloud-based
are connected to one another, and to many other simulation systems, with six-station training system demonstrator that uses our entire suite of prod-
our interoperability tools. ucts. The demonstration is accessible through our website at https://mak.
MAK has a long history in the modelling, simulation and training com/cloud. We have also developed a short guidebook to help our cus-
community as a leader in the development of interoperability protocols tomers sort through the terminology, concepts, and benefits of servers,
and COTS products for distributed simulation. Core to our philosophy is virtualisation, and cloud architectures at https://mak.com/msg.
the notion that simulation tools should give customers options, not lock Second is the fact that the bar is continually being raised for simulation
them into a single-vendor solution. All of MAK’s simulation products are performance and visual effects. The defence modelling, simulation, and
designed with that principle of interoperability in mind. Because of this, training community delivers immersive simulation environments in virtual
we can offer complete simulation systems using all the products in the worlds that are comparable to Hollywood movies and commercial video
MAK suite, or offer individual MAK products which can be easily integrated games. The challenge for simulation developers is to take the technologi-
with components provided by our customers or other vendors within the cal advances developed in these commercially-funded (and often fantas-
industry. tic) environments and apply them - taking real end-user requirements into
1. VR-FORCES is a powerful and flexible computer-generated forces account – to the production of cost-effective training and experimentation
(CGF) platform for simulating battlefield, maritime, urban, airspace and systems that yield measurable results. As MAK’s products have improved
space activity within a synthetic environment. It models vehicles, hu- over the years to meet ever-increasing customer requirements, we have
man characters, weapon systems, munitions, communications, sensors continually sought out innovations in 3D graphics rendering technology,
and satellites. It is used as a threat generator for training and mission content development strategies and high-fidelity dynamics algorithms, to
rehearsal systems, a synthetic environment for experimentation, and as improve our software and keep our simulations fresh.
an engine to stimulate C4I systems. It is highly customisable and can MT: What is the single biggest change coming in your market?
work with a variety of terrain data formats.
2. VR-ENGAGE is our new multi-role virtual simulator that lets users direct- B. Cole: Undoubtedly the VR/AR/MR mix. Virtual Reality was all the rage
15-20 years ago, but the technology back then did not live up to expec-
ly participate in the virtual environment as a first-person human char- tations. The current resurgence of increasingly viable virtual reality head-
acter; a vehicle driver, gunner or commander; or the pilot of an aircraft sets, head-mounted display systems and see-through goggles is proving
or helicopter. VR-ENGAGE can be deployed as a trainee simulator, as to have staying power. The opportunity is clear. With person-wearable
a role player station, an instructor aid, a desktop simulation game, and
even as a virtual reality/augmented reality/mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) display systems, fully immersive training can be deployed for a fraction
of the cost of projection display systems. And with the smaller cost and
headset experience. Built on mature, proven technologies, VR-ENGAGE footprint, new training applications can be delivered closer to the point of
gets its simulation engine from VR-FORCES and its game-quality 3D need.
graphics from our image generator, VR-VANTAGE.
3. VR-VANTAGE is MAK’s immersive visual scene and sensor image gen- MT: That seems pretty clear. VT MAK has always had a reputation for in-
erator. It uses state-of-the-art rendering techniques, physics-based novation, for clear-sightedness and for reducing complex requirement sets
models and special to simple solutions – if
effects to generate there is such a thing as
views so real that a simple solution in this
participants become industry. It might be in-
immersed in the vir- teresting to come back
tual environment. in a year’s time to see
VR-VANTAGE can how Bill Cole’s views
be deployed in a va- may have changed – or,
riety of COTS hard- indeed, how he may
ware configurations, have changed the com-
from simple desk- pany’s approach. Either
tops to blended mul- way, MT and the newly
ti-channel displays established Mönch
for virtual cockpits, Training & Simulation
monitor-based sys- Channel (MTSC) will be
tems, and AR/VR/ tracking progress.
MR wearables. VR-ENGAGE gives trainees
VR-VANTAGE with the opportunity to practice Tim Mahon
SensorFX is often and perfect individual skills is Mönch Group’s
embedded into hi-fi- as well as collective special correspondent
and Editor of Mönch
delity sensor simula- and team activities. Training & Simulation
tion systems. Channel (MTSC)