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U.S. Army Deploys Advanced Display Technology for Combat Training

June 10, 2005 Alameda, CA - The Army's Battle Command Training Centers (BCTCs) are the focal points for Army battle staff digital training and development. The Army Constructive Training Federation (ACTF) Entity Resolution Federation (ERF) is a dynamic environment which simulates battlefield combat scenarios. The ACTF ERF program supports staff training in the BCTCs on digital information systems at division, brigade, and battalion levels to optimize tactical combat readiness and decision-making. Additionally, ACTF ERF simulates emerging tactical warfighting strategies, techniques, and equipment to determine the commander's and his/her staff's battlefield effectiveness.

The U.S. Army uses RGB Spectrum's QuadView Battle Command Training Center (BCTC) program to improve tactical decision making and combat readiness of command-level staff. Four QuadViews are used to display up to sixteen computer and video signals in one centralized display area for commanders.

Ron Sprinkle, Chief Scientist for AEgis Technologies, explains, "The ACTF ERF concept allows commanders and their staffs in training to experience the warfighting tempo they could expect to encounter on the battlefield with the objective of improving tactical decision making. A problem that the commanders experienced with current Battle Command systems is that battlefield visuals are decentralized and viewed throughout the tactical operations center on various laptop and desktop PC displays. Continuous assessment is therefore cumbersome and inefficient". "A goal of the new technology deployment is to bring all visuals to one centralized display area for real-time visual and mental integration. AEgis Technoologies, as the visual system integrator, in cooperation with Relyant Technologies, considered RGB Spectrum's QuadView multiple input, multiple image display processor as an ideal solution. Systems Engineers from Relyant Technologies and AEgis Technologies integrated four plasma displays and four QuadView® processors together with a video switcher, a control computer, and remote wireless PDA control to form the BattleSight system".

Simulation integrator, AEgis Technologies Group, custom-designed wireless PDAs to provide commanders with easy control of the QuadView's input source selection and display configurations.

BattleSight incorporates four rack-mounted QuadView processors. Up to 24 inputs are routed to a switcher which feeds up to 16 signals simultaneously to the QuadView processors. The signals are comprised of simulation systems information displays and Battle Command displays that provide near real-time friendly and enemy situation information visuals, including unit locations, operational and logistical status, operational graphics, and maps. These information displays are used by the unit commanders and BCTC staffs to control training exercises and to conduct After Action Reviews. The near real-time operational information displays are provided by various Battle Command digital systems including the Maneuver Control System, the All Source Analysis System, the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems, the Air and Missile Defense Work Station, the Battle Command Sustainment Support System, the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade & Below platform-level situation awareness system, and the Global Command & Control System - Army. Other displays can also be viewed depending upon exercise training objectives, including simulated UAV imagery transmissions, surveillance cameras, camcorders, or inputs from other devices such as cable television network news broadcasts or simulated broadcasts as part of the exercise design.

An example BattleSight viewing area consists of four 42-inch plasma displays configured in a 2x2 array. Each QuadView outputs up to four images to a plasma display in the display's native 1365 x 768 pixel resolution. In this configuration, the commanders can view all sixteen visuals at once. The QuadViews' versatile display capabilities also let commanders resize any source from postage stamp to full screen, position the windows anywhere on the plasma screens, and zoom and pan within each image. Other viewing displays or output devices can be configured and used as well, including video projectors and digital video recording devices.

With a creative touch, AEgis Technologies designed wireless PDAs to give commanders control of the display configurations and switcher signal selections from anywhere within the facility. The PDAs are programmed with eight presets for display configurations and switcher settings.

Sprinkle commented, "The reaction from the Army is exceptionally positive. The QuadView performs admirably. Everyone is pleased with its real time display capability, ability to handle many inputs of varying types, display configuration flexibility, and ease of operation".

The AEgis Technologies Group, headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, is a leading provider of modeling and simulation products, consulting services, and training to aerospace, defense, automotive, biomedical, chemical, and other industries worldwide. For more information, call 256-922-0802 or visit http://www.aegistg.com/. For more specific information concerning BattleSight, contact Mr. Garry Tickal at 407-380-5001 or email: gtickal@aegistg.com.

Relyant Technologies, Inc. is located in Alexandria, VA and is a leading provider of information technology hardware and software systems to both government and commercial sectors. For more information, contact Mr. Chris Fazel at 571-275-1550 or ermail: chris@relyant-tech.com.

RGB Spectrum® is a leading designer and manufacturer of videographic and multimedia hardware subsystems. Products include the View™ family of video windowing systems, the RGB/Videolink® line of scan converters, the DGy™ digital recording system, Quadra® universal scaler and synchronizer, SynchroMaster® keyers and overlayers and SuperWall™, ComputerWall® and MediaWall® multi-screen display controllers. RGB Spectrum is based in Alameda, California, and can be reached at 510-814-7000 and on the internet at http://www.rgb.com.