Quantifying the Benefit of Facility-Based Mixed Reality Training in Support of the FITE JCTD Business Case Analysis

摘要

The nature of modern ground warfare has become increasingly complex and will continue to do so. Future conflicts require participants to have improved decision-making skills in an environment where tactical decisions have strategic implications. Today, small-unit combat trainers lack the means to create training conditions that reinforce such decision-making skills. On top of traditional training-enabler requirements, these training resources must provide an immersive training environment that is culturally realistic and interactive. The Future Immersive Training Environment (FITE) was proposed as a Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) in October 2008 in response to this need. It is divided into two parts: * Spiral 1 - Individually-worn Virtual Reality * Spiral 2 - Facility-based Mixed Reality & Individually-worn Augmented Reality. The FITE JCTD is a two-year USJFCOM-led JCTD designed to enhance immersive training technologies by demonstrating, assessing and transitioning such capabilities into service programs of record. Unfortunately it is difficult to build a good business case for a new training capability because there is no existing system against which to compare. This thesis uses learning curve theory to quantify the benefit of training soldiers in an immersive, mixed-reality environment in terms of reducing combat fatalities. When compared against the estimated investment over the system life cycle, the results show attractive returns over a broad range of input parameters. The results of this thesis could provide input to the Future Immersive Training Environment (FITE) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) Business Case Analysis (BCA).