Vanguard Magazine

12 APRIL/MAY 2020 www.vanguardcanada.com training & simulation As a backdrop, digital transformation is progressing and still requires structural changes. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a buzz word anymore and efforts are being deployed to harness it so it can be applied to military training. In addition, many or- ganizations are often in awe when they are presented with nice, fully textured 3D ren- dering of a piece of equipment in a Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) and navigated through the equipment. This combination of technologies is often seen as the nirvana of training and too often overlooks the most important consideration – the value to the training outcome. It must be understood however, that in the military and defence training domain, the introduction of new technologies is not as straight forward as it may seem. Training must be very structured and must follow a very strict development method- ology. In addition, for each new platform, Qualification Standards must be defined, and a rigorous Training Needs and Train- ing Media Analysis must be conducted in a very early phase of a long (15-20 years) program. Technology obviously has a much shorter evolution cycle. These challenges can be overcome with a clear innovation strategy that will encom- pass the program phases and achieve the objectives of Technology Enabled Learn- ing. Such strategy though, must have an adapted procurement vehicle to enable the insertion of new simulation equipment for example, within an existing training con- tinuum. This means that there must be flexibility to adapt the Qualification Stan- dard and re-adjust the training plan and have a more continuous technology intro- duction methodology, in addition to big bang mid-life upgrades. Emerging technologies In military training and simulation, there are new technologies emerging that could increase training effectiveness and profi- ciency. Virtual reality (VR), to augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR), train- ing solutions offer a fully immersive expe- rience with seamless blending of real and virtual. These technologies are now more and more accepted as viable solutions to complement higher fidelity synthetic and live training. The industry is moving to- ward 4K ultra-high-definition screen and there are emerging technologies with im- proved foveal renderings that would allow systems to track a user's eye movements and provide much higher resolution in specific areas of visual focus, rather than across the entire display. In addition, new advances in AI algo- rithms and deep learning offer a multitude of potential usages to bring the training experience even further. This is to create a seamless experience between the warfight- er and the training systems. Game-based Learning techniques are being improved to use AI to complement instructors to maximize throughput while improving retention among our trainees. Leveraging advanced game engine technology, fully interactive environments can be adaptive to adjust pacing based on a trainee's per- formance and individual needs. Technology like AR, VR and MR are providing the military with lighter, more agile and flexible training solutions. Com- bined with fifth generation mobile systems (5G), it could have a number of potential military applications, particularly for C4ISR systems training which would benefit from improved data rates and lower latency (time delay). As 5G could reduce latency in other data-intensive activities, it will enhance aug- mented or virtual reality training environ- ments, for example for richness of virtual content and for quick head movements that can result in motion sickness. Military training Environment For a long time, training has been treated as an afterthought and as a necessary bur- den. Fortunately, this trend has changed as more and more the focus is on increasing throughput, efficiencies and increasing the quality of systems. It is accepted now that the above objectives can be met by adopt- ing new technologies. This includes Tech- nology Enabled Learning (TEL) which is now part of the training strategy. More and more commercial-off-the- shelf (COTS) equipment is being used in integrated training systems for improved performance, quality and cost effective- ness. Most of the COTS equipment is coming from or is heavily influenced by the gaming and mobile industry which evolve at an extremely rapid pace relative to the military training domain. Typically, COTS equipment's performance almost doubles every year. While the performance improvement is welcome, it must result in actual training benefits in an environment where training programs are meant to have a very long-term duration. What is observed is that this situation brings opportunities but also brings con- fusion as many organizations would pre- scribe training solutions only based on the last impressive demonstration of a tech- nology and believe that such technology would bring unrealistic benefits. On the other extreme, we still encounter require- ments imposing large visual projection bowls for programs that will be executed not before the next three to five years at least. The two main problems are that the expected training outcome is not well ar- ticulated and there is seemingly, no meth- odology to measure the expected benefits. Back to Basics The most important success factor which is sometimes overlooked in any training and simulation technology introduction is the expected training outcome. This may Photo: Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc.

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