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SUAS TRAINING FROM AEGIS

A US Army Raven UAS.

AEgis Technologies Group has delivered a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) embedded training solution to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) that will be used for pre-deployment training.

Through collaboration with AeroVironment Inc, AEgis has developed and delivered a mission planning and operator training solution for AV’s Raven, Puma and Wasp Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Known as VAMPIRE (Visualization And Mission Planning Integrated Rehearsal Environment), this embedded training capability is already hosted on fielded equipment and allows operators to train and rehearse operator and mission-level tasks for AV’s family of SUAS.

The system is closely integrated and correlated with the FalconView flight planning software commonly used by Army UAS operators. VAMPIRE simulates operator tasks such as route and mission planning as well as in-flight tasks such as target tracking and reaction to emergency situations.

“VAMPIRE provides soldiers with an enhanced ability to train on Raven, Wasp and Puma systems anywhere, anytime,” explains Scott Newbern, AV’s program manager for the Raven UAS, “and our collaboration with AEgis means that as we develop new operational capabilities for our unmanned systems, our training capabilities can grow right along with them.”

VAMPIRE allows users to build tactical scenarios on geo-specific terrain databases built from satellite source imagery. Using a large library of realistic 3D models (humans, vehicles, weapons and aircraft), custom special effects (smoke, explosions, and fire), and user-selected light and weather conditions (including IR simulation), VAMPIRE provides training capabilities that are accessible to the trainee regardless of weather, airspace or tactical limitations.

“Feedback from 101st indicates VAMPIRE is exactly the training solution they need,” explains David King, AEgis’ Vice-President for Simulation Development, “AEgis is proud to bring this important training capability to the US Army, and we’re working hard to make it even better in the future.”