Vanguard Magazine

t traInIng AnD SIMULATIon www.vanguardcanada.com APRIL/MAY 2016 31 run in the millions of dollars, the sim-in-a-box package is more compact and considerably least expensive. It is primarily com- posed of a suite of software for 3D modelling or potential battle- field environments and scenarios which can be managed by an instructor to suit training requirements. While the ICGS training system developed by ADGA is a vir- tual simulator, sim-in-a-box is an informal term describing the army's move to baseline and commodify the interface between the Army's constructive simulation applications. Constructive simulation, or war-gaming, is unique in that the users are trained to make decisions based upon the effects their previous orders have produced. An added, advantage of the sim-in-a-box system is that individ- ual simulators can be networked with other simulators. This will enable personnel and commanders to train in a "virtual" collab- orative environment where LAV crews are interacting with other LAV crews, said MacQuarrie. The computer tracks all actions as well as expenditures of fuel, ammunition, vehicle breakdowns and kills on the battlefield. Trainees do not fight the computer but rather they fight other commanders practicing learned tactics and strategy. Replicating the current modern battle space in any training area for field training without the help of simulation is far too demand- ing and unsatisfactory from a resource point of view. For this quality of decision-making training for the command- ers, there is no alternative to simulation-based training, especially at battle-group levels, and higher, according to ADGA. For this purpose, the sim-in-a-box configuration is unique in that it regroups various simulation applications used by the Cana- dian Army and integrates them into one entity in order to provide Army and Joint customers with scalable and agile access to com- puter simulation in areas where it was traditionally too complex or time-consuming to consider. the future of simulation ADGA seeks to build upon the existing TSEC expertise by pro- posing ICGS-like solutions to the army staff with a view to maxi- mizing training efficiency and reduce cost across multiple plat- forms. Eventually, this capability, along with other large-scale army training programs, will make a full fleet of virtual simulators available to the army across five different army bases. The company believes computer simulation technology, in general, will follow the path of all business technology; bespoke systems will be replaced by commodity hardware, custom user software will be replaced or supplemented with Web technologies, communications will use open standards and protocols, and simu- lation servers will migrate to the cloud (either a publicly hosted commercial entity or a private cloud hosted by the military). In the not too distant future, user interactions with simulation will continue to approach reality. ADGA predicts that while virtual reality (VR) will occupy some space in the domain, augmented/mixed reality (AR/MR) will provide a far greater range of applicability. Finally, the experience of operating equipment in the virtual world, including haptic feedback, will continue to improve sig- nificantly. REDEFINING YOUR BUSINESS With best-in-class technologies, equipment and expertise, the CCPV offers you comprehensive prototyping and testing services in a single location. The CCPV is committed to helping you improve your products and market them faster through responsive, reliable and cost-effective testing. www.CCPV.ca 07090_CCPV_ad_FINALv4_c.indd 1 2016-05-03 10:21 AM …bespoke simulation systems will be replaced by commodity hardware, custom user soware will be replaced or supplemented with Web technologies.

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