Current and Future Use of Synthetic Environments (SEs)

Abstract

This report is the final deliverable for task 3.4.1.“Review Existing Synthetic Environments and Software Tools to Support HFI”. The purpose of this work is to gain an understanding of existing Synthetic Environment (SE) capability. This understanding would then be used to investigate future uses and requirements of SEs to support HFI.

A survey of current capability was undertaken. The survey focused on the HF aspects SE and the extent of support for HFI process. Thirty- six SEs were reviewed. These ranged in age from 1980 to 2004 and, from self contained environments such as the Nimrod MRA4 Weapon System Integration Rig (WSIR) to large distributed SEs such as GBAD. In terms of the CADMID process, SEs tend to be used mainly during the concept and the assessment phases. The CADMID phases of Manufacture and Disposal were relatively unsupported by SE tools.

A gap analysis was performed. This gap analysis considered differences between the position in current SE development, inferred from the survey, and the future requirements as identified through work package 3.

download the full report