Full Mission Bridge. (MARIN)
VISCON turned to VIOSO 6 SIM for the oceanic task of setting up the state-of-the-art LMS and FMB simulators at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands
VIOSO is ushering in a sea change in maritime research and training at the state-of-the art new Seven Oceans Simulator centre (SOSc) in the Netherlands, where its advanced projection technology is helping to recreate the high seas in immersive, lifelike detail.
Located at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN), one of the world’s leading institutes for hydrodynamic and nautical research, the SOSc was officially opened by His Majesty King Willem Alexander late last year. Capable of ultra-realistic simulation of the behaviour of vessels, as well as other interactions between maritime structures, the environment and people, the state-of-the-art facility is designed to be the most realistic simulator centre for maritime operations in the world.
The SOSc facility comprises two flagship simulators – the Large Motion Simulator (LMS) and Full Mission Bridge (FMB) – and several smaller multipurpose solutions, all of which can simulate the full range of maritime operations, from simple ship handling to high-risk, multi-player offshore operations. VIOSO’s automatic calibration and alignment technology was instrumental in realising the SOSc’s immersive visual environments, including the LMS’s 16m-diameter spherical dome and the FMB’s 14m-wide cylindrical display.
In close partnership with German system integrator VISCON, VIOSO delivered precision blending and warping solutions, ensuring seamless image alignment across the facility’s complex projection surfaces. Both the Large Motion Simulator, which boasts a six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform and immersive 360° projection dome, and the Full Mission Bridge, which offers forward or backward views on a 240° × 42° cylindrical screen comprising two 6m-diameter domes, benefit from VIOSO’s projection expertise, allowing the SOSc to realistically simulate the lifelike environments essential for advanced maritime training.
To calibrate and align the Large Motion Simulator and Full Mission Bridge simulators, VISCON took advantage of VIOSO’s specialist warping and blending software for simulation applications, VIOSO 6 SIM (formerly Anyblend), which was integrated directly into the MARIN simulation software. The use of VIOSO 6 SIM, which supports a virtually endless number of projectors, cameras and image generators, offered the integrator perfect control over the complex multi-projection set-ups: five cameras and 30 channels for the LMS dome and a total of 13 cameras and 22 channels (1 + 6 + 6 cameras/10 + 6 + 6 channels) for the FMB complex.
In addition to functioning as standalone solutions, the two flagship simulators, along with the SOSc’s other smaller simulators, can be interconnected to replicate scenarios involving multiple ships navigating challenging sea conditions, underlining the need for a calibration solution that VISCON’s technicians could trust to offer 100% accurate results. The reliability and precision offered by VIOSO 6 SIM made it the only tool suitable for the exacting task.
“We are proud to have been part of the Seven Oceans Simulator centre – a truly pioneering project that redefines what is possible in the field of maritime simulation,” says Sergey Kovyryalov, director of VIOSO Simulation.
“By deploying our one-of-a-kind calibration solution for the centre’s unique projection systems, VISCON contributed to creating environments that are not just visually stunning but also transformative for training and research. The final result is a testament to what can be achieved through close collaboration between simulation industry leaders.”
