The United States Army is using Crytek’s CryEngine 3 game engine technology to create a new simulation to help train soldiers. The Army plans to spend $57 million on the project. The technology that will go into the simulation and the technology to use it is being developed by Orlando-based Intelligent Decisions. The Dismounted Soldier Training System (DSTS) enables soldiers and units to train inside a video game environment that features real weather conditions, realistic graphics, squad-based interactions, and advanced motion sensor technology that provides full 360-degree movement within the game.
"What we're trying to do with infantry squad-level training is suspension of disbelief, and the CryEngine 3 is the best video game technology on the market today," said Floyd West, Director of Strategic Programs, Orlando Division of Intelligent Decisions. "With CryEngine 3 being used for Crysis 2 and the capabilities that game engine provides, it allows us to make the most realistic simulation possible. We're able to transport soldiers to accurately recreated locales like Afghanistan and Iraq, where we can simulate everything from visuals to 360-degree sound."
The system consists of a head-mounted display and a special backpack called a "man wearable system" that contains a beefy portable computing system. The setup also uses a 10-by-10 foot pad for each soldier to operate in, voice communication, and a joystick for firing various weapons.
"The goal is to complete common operating environments, so the things the Army is doing today would be Afghanistan, the mountainous, cavernous regions, and the Iraqi desert-like regions, as well as wooded areas," said West. "We have some geotypical and common operating environments built-in for training, but the system will come with an editor that allows real missions to be created in the field."
The technology also allows for modification of conditions in the field. Older methods would require Special Forces or other soldiers to use aerial photography, schematics, or reconnaissance briefings prior to deployment.
The Army hopes to have 102 systems in place globally in January 2012.
Comments
Re: U.S. Army Developing Training Sim Using CryEngine 3
Ah.. one of these projects....
Every couple years someone tries to start up a new project with HUDs and VR and such.. each time they end up with a really expensive setup that can't scale up well enough to handle training any cheaper then mock villages....
But they always make a big splash at the trade shows. Projects like this have very high 'sexy' rating.
Re: U.S. Army Developing Training Sim Using CryEngine 3
Its good for situational training but not much else, even then hireing an actor and useing custom air soft weaopns would probmly be cheaper.
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Re: U.S. Army Developing Training Sim Using CryEngine 3
That is generally what they do.. not sure if they use airsoft though.
The big problem tends to be bottleneck.. there are only so many mock villages so they can only train units in them for so long. One of the reasons behind the push behind starting projects like this is to get solutions that can be scaled up like DVTE.. but once you throw in the fancy hardware it ends up being right back where you started.
Plus... most of these projects have little or no AI, so you STILL need to hire actors.....
Re: U.S. Army Developing Training Sim Using CryEngine 3
Well the only thing I can think of is the VR hemlet but with todays tech with a stand that the person can run,walk,crawl on.
Other than the the wall trainer is about the only other option I can think of but you still need a floor dedive that can move allow for the apprance of free land based movement, even then I think large multi purpose training facsitlites that have land,sea and air levels in the design would be the best thing we could do with training, they could sub it out to police, firemen,search and recuse. even allowing civialns to do paint ball and other tag team war like simulations,it might cost 10 grand a day(1 grand to all lawenforcement and serch and reacuse,ect) but its a blanaceing act, you'd need 2-4 fasitlites in each state, it is 20 stories tall, land coems in forest,rocky,sandy,urban settins part of the floor hold some of the rooms odds and ends(fake houseing,rocks,trees,ect,ect) Sea and air have simluair themes tho air is more a VR haul with all kinds of up to date vechiles simulators and sea can do fresh or salt water aera training. HAve a evevator lift system like on the carriers so anything can be moved to any part of the building, the upper most floors are for mangiment and high secuirty, the lower floors are for the water centric floors. But I guess we can;t build such a thing as of yet. I gues at the end of the day we need more bases and more people employed to train everyone.
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