SubscribeBarco, global provider of visual display solutions for simulation and training, announced today that it has completed the installation of a four SEER mini-dome simulation system at Boeing's new Virtual Warfare Center (VWC) in St. Louis.
This advanced and compact visualisation environment enables military pilots to operate in realistic, detailed, and compelling flight scenarios and war-gaming simulations. This facilitates customer-driven testing and experimentation objectives. Boeing officials initially plan to use the Barco system to exercise pilot tactics, techniques, and procedures as it applies to air defense and attack scenarios.
"Pilot immersion into the virtual simulated environment we provide at the VWC is crucial," says Ken Milberg, manger of Boeing's Virtual Warfare Center. "These four new mini-domes will provide the pilots who support our experiments and tests with an engaging experience. The mini-domes also represent a company investment to honor the time that the warfighter spends here in the joint pursuit to provide better capabilities for our nation's future warfighters."
The Boeing Virtual Warfare Center is capable of creating Virtual Theater Air Battle simulations with some of the most advanced simulation technologies capable of 'six degrees of freedom' a realistic representation of how a warfighter would perform in the air.
Boeing selected Barco to equip its facility with the SEER mini-dome system. Barco's complete system solution includes four integrated SEER mini-domes with 5-channel SIM 6 Ultra II LCD projection system. Each mini-dome is equipped with Barco's sophisticated control and alignment tools, as well as dedicated peripheral devices. Barco's xRACU remote control tool effectively operates, calibrates, configures, and diagnoses the array of projectors. Barco's automated alignment tool accurately aligns and matches brightness and color.
The Boeing VWC project was under an aggressive integration time frame and Barco met the challenge by deploying the mini-dome solution in rapid fashion. From start to finish, it took approximately 23 days to complete the entire installation. The Barco implementation team consisted of industry veteran project managers, system engineers, visualisation specialists, and customer service personnel. The project involved project coordination, factory assembly and testing, installation, on-site training, and technical support. Barco system engineers worked closely with Boeing personnel to set up dedicated peripheral devices and software, and interface Boeing's computer image generators with Barco's visualisation system to assure optimal operation.
"Barco worked well with our engineering team and we were impressed with the product, service, and commitment to schedule. Some of our customers have seen the mini-domes and are now anxious to use them in their future tests," said Milberg.
The Barco SEER (Small Environment-Enhanced Reality) system is a compact, space saving solution that provides constant eye relief over the entire spherical surface to optimise out-of-window scenes, enabling pilots to experience full immersive training. Several mini domes can be networked together to maximise fighter training. Barco has installed numerous SEER mini-dome systems across the globe. This system is currently used by the U.S. Air Force, BAE Systems Eurofighter program, and the Grippen PETRA System for the Swedish Air Force, to name a few.
