Design of a Stand-Alone Division Tactics Simulator Utilizing Non- Proprietary (Open Source) Media and Iterative Development

摘要

Fleet maneuvers, or division tactics (DIVTACS), are achieved by a series of precision shipboard movements directed by an Officer in Tactical Control. Much like a precision drill team, DIVTACS training requires multiple ships underway in close proximity, often a rare commodity. Costs to conduct live training range from several Thousand (per evolution) to several Million dollars (to repair ships after a collision at-sea). Computer simulation opens the door to maximizing DIVTACS training, while mitigating risk. The Navy spends in excess of $60 Million per year on simulation-based training. Currently available simulators provide a DIVTACS capability by connecting several simulators together via a LAN. These simulators are cost prohibitive ranging from $100,000 to Millions of dollars per unit. They are manpower and maintenance intensive requiring dedicated infrastructures, drastically limiting deploy-ability and reliability. Open source applications are gaining considerable leverage in the commercial market and offer significant cost- reductions. This thesis explored the possibilities of open source development by providing a proof of concept division tactics simulator. Additional considerations were given to the extension of the simulator for use in surface tactics in general and areas of future research.