News
CAE launches UAS mission trainer
Nov. 7, 2012, Ottawa - Today at the Unmanned Systems Canada conference, CAE announced the launch of its UAS Mission Trainer product.
November 7, 2012 By Carey Fredericks
The CAE UAS Mission Trainer combines an open architecture with commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and simulation software to provide a comprehensive, platform-agnostic training system for UAS pilots, sensor operators, and mission commanders.
The CAE UAS Mission Trainer is currently being installed at the UAS Centre of Excellence in Alma, Quebec, where it will be used to train pilots and sensor operators of the Miskam UAS. CAE and Aeronautics are using the Miskam UAS, which is a Canadian version of the Aeronautics Dominator XP, to demonstrate how unmanned systems can be used for civil applications such as remote inspection of pipelines and hydroelectric installations, surveillance of forest fires, observation of critical natural resources and a range of other applications.
"Unmanned systems are changing the nature of warfare and will continue to bring new capabilities to defence forces, and in the future will find a role in civil applications," said Gene Colabatistto, Group President, Military Products, Training and Services, CAE. "To fully leverage the capabilities of unmanned systems requires well-trained pilots and sensor operators, and integrating unmanned systems into the broader distributed mission operations environment. Our UAS Mission Trainer was specifically designed as an open, flexible product ideal for individual, crew, or networked training."
The CAE UAS Mission Trainer is platform-agnostic, meaning the product can be tailored to simulate any specific UAS with any sensor payload suite. Leveraging the common database (CDB) open architecture and commercially available technology, CAE's UAS Mission Trainer is not subject to any international traffic in arms regulations (ITAR) or restrictions. The completely immersive synthetic environment provides capabilities for training as well as mission planning and mission rehearsal. The CAE UAS Mission Trainer is available as an integrated product that includes:
— Ground control station (GCS) that is STANAG 4586-compliant;
— High-fidelity simulation software for sensors such as electro-optical
(EO), infrared (IR), synthetic aperature radar (SAR), and others;
— Simulated communication systems;
— Simulation software for generating training scenarios;
— CAE Medallion-6000 image generator;
— Tactical synthetic environment and computer-generated forces
representing maritime, ground and air assets;
— Instructor operator and mission brief/de-brief station;
— Correlated weather simulation.
"By addressing the often difficult integration issues and basing our product on an open architecture and COTS software, we have developed a cost-effective, low-risk UAS Mission Trainer that will help customers train and prepare their UAS mission crews," said Colabatistto.
CAE is demonstrating its UAS Mission Trainer at Unmanned Systems Canada (Booth #9/10) and will also demonstrate the UAS Mission Trainer at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Booth #1433, in Orlando, Florida from December 3-6, 2012.
