These innovative learning products and training tools will strengthen the PM Cargo CH-47F Block II Training Program.
November 10, 2021 – (Huntsville, AL): Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) has designed a software suite of adaptive, customized learning products and training tools in support of the U.S Army Program Executive Office – Aviation (PEO Aviation) for its Project Manager Cargo (PM Cargo) CH-47F Block II Training Program. Conceptualized and developed by ECS, this enhanced software suite encourages critical thinking and targets the individual user’s learning style and level of knowledge.
Waymon Armstrong, ECS president/CEO, states: “ECS has been proud to support military aviation teams for more than 24 years. This new suite is innovative, effective, and efficient; it enhances the training experience for our Warfighters and ensures Army Aviation teams continue to perform at maximum efficiency in order to execute successful missions.”
The team’s objective was to provide the Soldiers with comprehensive and engaging technical training while strengthening job proficiency and enhancing mission success. The software suite includes the following technical enhancements:
- computer-based training for rated crewmembers, non-rated crewmembers, including Army aircraft electricians (15F), Army CH-47 helicopter repairers (15U), Army avionic mechanics (15N), and Army aircraft powertrain repairers (15D)
- 3D interactive preflight instructor tool
- cockpit desktop trainer, developed in partnership with SAIC, the trainer features the current CH-47F and CH-47F Block II avionics software (CAAS) with a desktop and touch panel control interface
The suite offers a first-person perspective in a high-fidelity 3D immersive environment and is available on multi-platform delivery on Windows Standalone, WebGL, and mobile. In addition, the ECS team delivered numerous computer-based training lessons, covering 39 Terminal Learning Objectives (TLO) and 93 Learning Step/Activities (LSA).
ECS has been developing interactive aviation maintenance training programs and tools for PM Cargo since 2017. Nathan Ginos, Vice President of Operations, Huntsville, is leading the project from ECS Huntsville while working closely with the entire ECS team. During development, the team used the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) process to maximize training effectiveness.
ECS Delivers Haptics-Based VR Training for Burn Care Treatment as Part of SBIR Phase II for Defense Health Agency
The unique project utilizes teleteaching for burn care procedures and supports medical training scenarios within the U.S. Army’s Synthetic Training Environment.
November 17, 2021: Orlando, FL – Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) has delivered “Advanced Haptics Development to Support Medical Simulated Training Environments” as part of a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project for the Defense Health Agency. This project includes the design and development of haptics-based virtual reality (VR) training systems to support combat medicine within the U.S. Army’s Synthetic Training Environment (STE) and allows for potential expansion to the broader medical community.
Led by Shane Taber, ECS Vice President of Operations, Orlando, this research project has been designed as an extension of Tactical Combat Casualty Care Simulation (TC3Sim) and has been implemented using the baseline of multimodal haptic-based VR research scenarios developed from TC3Sim. The SBIR project features a multiplayer teleteaching capability for the synchronous training of students while an instructor can be observing and providing increasing levels of intervention to guide students on the procedure. The system also supports a single-player experience for new users or those requiring refresher training. In addition, this project currently includes a VR solution, whereas TC3Sim is available as a desktop/tablet-based experience.
Waymon Armstrong, ECS CEO/President says: “We are proud to provide this innovative medical training to our Soldiers within the Army’s STE systems. The integration with haptic devices offers a sense of touch and natural interactions within the immersive environment which strengthens the quality of the training and the users’ retention. When applied in almost any medical scenario, this enhanced training can provide all healthcare professionals – in the government or industry sectors - with the tools they need to potentially save more lives.”
During the first year of the study, the ECS team worked with medical professionals at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, to perform a literature review and to design the scenario for instructors and students to address escharotomy, a critical burn care treatment. ECS developed the scenario as a prototype system to demonstrate how learners can effectively collaborate using multiple modalities within the medical environment with support from haptics devices to learn potentially lifesaving techniques. ECS partnered with HaptX to integrate their DK2 haptic glove system into the VR-based training scenario for escharotomy. Upon completing development, ECS successfully conducted a usability study at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville for future research and development and to capture feedback on the technology and training approach based on a prototype training scenario.
Within the scenario, users are presented with a simulated burn patient, with which they can directly interact to perform the escharotomy. Running in a VR scenario including interaction with the patient’s leg, marker, scalpel, iodine, and cleaning pads, the trainee completes the procedure, individually or with a live instructor's assistance. Next, the player may independently review their overall performance or while collaborating with an instructor regarding feedback and areas for improvement.
During the second year of the SBIR study, the ECS team will continue its research expanding the scenarios to the point of injury in the battlefield for Combat Life Saver and Care Under Fire training. This SBIR will culminate with a training effectiveness evaluation to determine the learning value and engagement for learners, as compared to other methods of training.
Taber adds: “We’re excited to contribute to this body of research related to human performance and training effectiveness for both the military and medical communities. By collaborating with HaptX and Mayo Clinic, this type of innovative work advances high-fidelity VR training by combining the state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions.”
About ECS
ECS is an award-winning global training and technology solutions company, headquartered in Orlando, Florida with operations in Huntsville, Alabama and San Antonio, Texas. An industry innovator with a vast portfolio of training programs, ECS is a trusted provider of training, maintaining, and sustaining military service members and first responders around the world. ecsorl.com