|
This story is from the category Education
Date posted: 18/04/2005 Without live-fire training as an option, Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California came up with an innovative solution (with a little help from that blowtorch). They mounted a simulated M2 .50-caliber machine gun and Mk-19 grenade launcher from an existing training system that combines lasers and computer-generated imagery onto a surplus AAV turret and maintenance stand. Haphazard, but functional, this prototype piqued the interest of The American Office of Naval Research. Lieutenant Commander Dylan Schmorrow from ONR's virtual technology and environments program along with their team, took the idea from prototype to completion in the last six months, and created a dedicated virtual-reality training system intended for the AAV as well as its successor, the expeditionary fighting vehicle. The resulting Virtual Environment Assault Amphibian Vehicle (VEAAV) training system is composed of an instructor operator station, a driver's station, and an actual AAV turret. The trainer uses commercial Windows and Linux PCs to function. "These new systems will allow the Marine Corps AAV community to accomplish training that was not previously possible due to both range and ammunition supply constraints," said Schmorrow. "This effort is an example of the synthesis of basic science and technology application that ONR champions regularly to bring about a transformation of our naval forces' capabilities." Based on the success of the prototype, the Marine Corps is procuring 16 systems to meet the urgent training needs of the AAV community. The first unit was delivered to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina at the end of March. See the full Story via external site: www.physorg.com Most recent stories in this category (Education): 04/05/2013: Robotic insects make first controlled flight |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
