Visualizing Spatial Relationships: Training Fighter Pilots in a VirtualEnvironment Debrief Interface

摘要

In flying air intercepts, a fighter pilot must plan most tactical maneuvers wellbefore acquiring visual contact. Success may depend on the ability to create an accurate mental model of dynamic three-dimensional spatial relationships from two-dimensional information displays. This report describes an Air Force training program for visualizing large-scale dynamic spatial relationships. The Virtual Environment Debrief Interface (VirDI) was developed to study how virtual environment technologies can be applied to an aircrew training problem-specifically, the ability to visualize the geometry of an air intercept while the target is beyond visual range. The trainer employs a low-cost, portable system which accepts data from a F-16 part-task trainer. Within moments of completing a sortie on the simulator, the user may enter and walk through a virtual world containing the airship, target, and their respective flight trajectories. The training capacity of the system is described along with recommendations for its future expansion. F-16 Training, Situational awareness, Mental model, Three-dimensional, Virtual reality, Post-mission feedback, Virtual environment.