Embedded Training Solutions

The Challenge

Classroom based vehicle training systems are now commonplace and form part of the standard training regimen for many of the armed forces around the world, offering a safe and relatively inexpensive environment in which to practice and reinforce procedural and tactical skills. Training systems have also been incorporated into trailers to enable classroom training to travel alongside forces when they are deployed.

Classroom and even trailer based training systems have one fundamental drawback. The trainees have to leave their vehicles or weapons stations in order to do their training, often using interfaces that are close to, but not the same as, those found at their vehicle or weapons station. This results in reduced effectiveness due to travel to and from the classrooms, which in turn limits the frequency of training sessions leading to a longer time over which skills, learned during training exercises, can fade and become ineffective.

The Solution

By incorporating embedded training systems inside the vehicles the operators can engage in training exercises whenever it is required at a moments notice. The training systems are embedded in such a manner that the driver or operator is able to use the same interface equipment as he would use in normal vehicle or weapon operation. While embedded training devices may increase the wear on driver and weapon interfaces, overall training costs are reduced as many mechanical components can be disabled while in a training mode.

Initial embedded training systems are focused on procedural training but as the technology advances it is likely that these systems will evolve to become tactical trainers or even play a role in front line mission rehearsal.

By applying the knowledge gained from a history of developing embedded image processing systems for Electro Optical (EO) systems, Octec has developed an embedded training system, SIVET, that enables naval weapon systems operators to train on board ship at their normal weapons station. SIVET generates the simulated EO video, normally supplied by the EO sensors, and interacts with the various weapon controls and tracking sub systems in a manner that is almost invisible to the weapon operator.

SIVET based embedded training systems are currently being deployed by the Royal Navy and the US Navy over a wide range of ships, simulating different weapon systems.

The SIVET embedded training system offers the following features:

Custom Integration

At Octec we recognise that installing embedded training systems is a complicated process and often requires considerable additional effort to ensure that the training system operates effectively for each different type of weapon station. As such we offer an integration service that enables us to customise the training system to meet the unique demands of our customers.

Example customisation services include:

Next Generation

Octec is in the process of developing the next generation embedded training system which will offer refinements to the current system, as well as additional new features that will allow future training systems to become part of the tactical training environment by allowing them to communicate with other training devices, either in the same vehicle, or over a remote connection.

Some of the new capabilities include: