Immersive Training Environment Created by New Image Generator
CAEs Prodigy is a tool that helps to create realistic virtual environments.
CAE photo
ORLANDO, Fla. —CAE, a digital training company has recently released a new simulator image generator that uses a gaming engine. This allows for the creation of immersive training environments.
The CAE Prodigy image generator creates highly realistic graphics using the Unreal Engine, an engine developed by Epic Games.
In November, CAE debuted the technology during the National Training and Simulation Association’s annual Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Florida. NTSA is an affiliate to the National Defense Industrial Association.
Integrating Epic Games’ Unreal Engine gives CAE the ability to enhance a simulation’s realism and immersiveness, CAE Spokesperson Chris Stellwag said on the sidelines of the conference. The new engine allows the company create high-scene density, enhanced light and special effects in its simulations.
“Specifically for things like fighter training tasks — when you’re doing things like air refueling or formation flight — the fidelity and the realism of the virtual world is pretty critical,” he said. “Those kinds of training tests are very expensive to do and sometimes potentially dangerous, so the more you can do that in a virtual world to ready the pilots … the better.”
The company displayed the image generator along with its eSeries MR Prodigy Visual System. This simulator is used to train fighter pilots and pilots. It includes the image generator, projectors, and a dome display. Stellwag pointed out that the simulator can be set up to display graphics at 360 degrees.
Kshitij Sing, a CAE project manager, stated that the system can be used with 8K resolution projectors. This means that the width of the image is approximately 8,000 pixels and that 120 hertz operations are used to refresh the image 120 times per second. This allows the simulator to render smoother images and create clearer images.
Singh stated that these are the new standards of displaying images.
“Customers are looking to leverage changing technologies at a lower cost of ownership,” Singh said.
The new image generator can integrate with CAE’s existing databases — such as those already sold to the U.K. Royal Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force — which allows customers to upgrade their systems without brand new databases, according to a news release.
Topics:Training and simulation