USAF Security Forces Distributed Mission Training: Evolution of the Design Concept

摘要

The Air Force Research Laboratory and McDonald Research Associates have initiated research into distributed interactive simulation technology for USAF security forces. Security forces have a pivotal role in force protection. Their responsibilities include installation security and air base defense. Within these duty areas, training needs surveys have indicated that tactical decision-making and team coordination are high emphasis skills for training. Although field training exercises are the best way to acquire these skills, distributed interactive simulations could offer affordable supplements to field training. The goals of the research and development (R&D) project are to develop and demonstrate a capability for distributed training and to use this capability for investigating issues related to computer simulation, communications, and instruction. Since the introduction of this project during the Fall 2000 SIW (paper number OOF-SIW-117), the system design plan has evolved. The preliminary design plan included a link between constructive simulations and combat arms simulators. The plan has changed to a singular concentration on constructive simulations due to probability of use considerations. The preliminary design plan also called for hosting the training capability on the Internet. The plan has changed to hosting the capability on a local area network due to expectations relating to training effectiveness, technology obstacles, and schedule/cost considerations. The purpose of this paper is to describe the current design plan for security forces distributed mission training by illustrating virtual entities/models, communications, and simulation control. Project challenges and technology obstacles are also discussed.