Orlando, FL (20 June 2021) – Orlando-based Serious Simulations, as a teammate and key technology provider to General Dynamics Mission Systems, successfully demonstrated all requirements for the Indirect Fire prototype during assessments at Fort Benning, Georgia in the Fall of 2020. The project was part of the U.S. Army’s Synthetic Training Environment Live Training System (STE LTS) program for upgrading live training systems. The program was executed under the first STE LTS contract vehicle as an Other Transaction Authority (OTA).
The U.S. Army awarded the Short-Range Indirect Fires contract to General Dynamics in 2020 to provide a workable solution for the M320 Grenade Launcher in live force-on-force training. The M320 is an important dismounted infantry weapon that is not part of the current MILES laser-based training systems.
Serious Simulations developed its technology to integrate a M320 Grenade Launcher with a sensor package that detects and reports fire events, weapon loading, round type, orientation, and other data. Integrated with General Dynamics tracking system, soldier worn processor, and augmented reality headset, the system detects, reports, and flies out virtual indirect fire projectiles. The virtual projectiles impact the live training battlefield by communicating the appropriate battle damage to personnel and vehicles within the blast radius of the 40mm munition.
The M320 instrumentation package is a simple-to-attach barrel insert (left). A soldier fires the M320 with an augmented reality display. The detonation emits smoke and sound similar to the real 40mm fire event.
Serious Simulations’ unique approach allows the M320 Grenade Launcher to be readied by the soldiers in seconds, with no tools, thus enabling the soldiers to use their operational weapons in live training. The system adds no net weight, and gives audio, tactile, and visual feedback to the user when outfitted with Augmented Reality Headsets such as the IVAS system. Other players without AR headsets will only be able to see and hear the physical firing effects of the real weapon. The package accommodates different types of realistic 40mm ammunition with disposable/reusable simulated rounds.
Serious Simulations is a pioneer in the integration of patented instrumentation systems for direct fire weapons systems for the U.S. Army and foreign military forces. Most notably, the company’s “Weapon Skin” holds a host of tracking, sensing, and communications embedded in it, with the latest versions embedding a tiny edge computer.
General Dynamics was the prime contractor for the Short-Range Indirect Fire OTA 1, and developed the overall system architecture, integration with the Augmented Reality solution, integration of the Serious Simulations instrumentation package, and management of the effort. The mutual effort was a great success, and future work is planned together under OTA 2.
“We worked very closely with Serious Simulations in the Indirect Fire OTA, as well as in some prior internal undertakings. Their team really contributed to an entirely new approach to providing realistic live training with real weapons.,” said Jorge Rivera-Moner of General Dynamics Mission Systems. “We achieved all our goals and look forward to working together to develop innovative live training solutions to our customers.”
“We were extremely grateful to work with General Dynamics to help deliver a great prototype capability to the Army. Together we are offering mature effective solutions that fill current gaps in the way the Army trains, such as exercising the grenade launcher in live training. We have many more solutions to offer for other live training gaps too, such as the Mk 19 auto grenade launcher, the M240 Machine Gun, the M67 Hand Grenade, and Claymore Mines. They are a world-class company with terrific people, so working with them has been a great pleasure,” said Christopher Chambers, CEO of Serious Simulations and retired U.S. Army officer.
# # #
For more information media should contact –
Christopher Chambers, Serious Simulations, 407-538-1927, cchambers@serioussimulations.com
About Serious Simulations, LLC: Serious Simulations LLC, an Orlando based Veteran Owned simulation business, designs immersive training systems using custom made hardware and software components for specific skill training needs, combined with motion tracking systems, wireless communications devices, wireless display technologies and commercial game engines. We have unique approaches to integrate real devices and weapons into simulators. We produce wireless video technology and wireless head/helmet mounted displays (HMDs) with very high resolutions and wide fields of view. Serious Simulations’ professional grade VR training systems focus on military, police, emergency responders, and professional grade sports and entertainment experiences. For more information, visit our web site at www.serioussimulations.com . Inquiries: info@serioussimulations.com.
Recent Comments