An Cosantóir

16 Simulation is an essential component of modern gunnery and armoured fighting vehicle crew training as it helps to build repetition in training, expand the learning development in scenarios and environments that cannot be easily replicated or accessed in traditional training. The Cavalry School had a desktop-based gunnery simulator for the Kongsberg M151 Remote Weapon System which had become obsolescent and required a solution. The idea for a virtual reality based solution was conceived in 2019, with a contract eventually signed in 2021 with Kongsberg and Dublin based software company, VRAI. The contract was led and managed by DoD Contract Branch, with D J3/5 and Ord Branch. The end user side of the project was led by the Cavalry School, working very closely with VRAI to develop a simulator within scope to the end user needs. Although the simulator was specified for gunner and crew simulation, the capacity was identified to scale up to troop/platoon level simulation where there was a clear end user training need. The project required a codification of gunner, driver and commander tasks and interactions across mission sets. Always primarily developed as a gunnery simulator, the concept of treating the vehicle as a 'system' was key to ensure the best employment of the vehicle. The simulator uses a Unity software engine. The user hardware is mainly through a Virtual Reality headset, coupled with a hand controller. The gunner has the matched Kongsberg control grip to ensure a higher level of fidelity. The driver uses COTS driver controls. Although the system is not a qualified driver simulator, all open-source driving dynamics are included, for example, side slope, gradient and step climb. The vehicles were 3D modelled to give an accurate and immersive training environment for users. The system includes two maps; one is a composite of the Glen of Imaal range area, incorporating a replica of the range area and additional manufactured terrain to the west to increase the training area utility. The second is a generic world map incorporating additional urban and manufactured terrains based on PSO experiences. There are eight Cavalry scenarios and eight Infantry scenarios which can be CAVALRY SCHOOL INTRODUCE VIRTUAL SIMUL ATION FOR TR AINING CAVALRY SCHOOL INTRODUCE VIRTUAL SIMULATION FOR TRAINING By Comdt Joe Tynan Photos By Comdt Joe Tynan The simulator room is named after Trooper Patrick Mullins Lt Stephen Doyle briefing students Students engaged in the lesson

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