Military Training Technology Trends

Andy Fawkes

Ubelly Ignite - Modern Jago London – 21 January 2013

Military Training and Education

• Scale - 257,160 Military/Civilian (2011)
• Depth – eg. Fighter Pilot, Reactor Operator
• Breadth – Apache Pilot through to Cook
• Flexibility – Current Operations

What is Simulation?

Source: Wikipedia; Pictures: Lockheed Martin, Royal Navy, CAE, PA

Simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time

Typically a military training simulation is interactive, with a “human in the loop”

eg. a flight simulator or driving simulator

Why Use Simulation?

Reduce Costs

Improve Training

Reduce Environmental Impact

Safety

Reduce Time to Train

Predominantly Mechanical Era

Images - Imperial War Museum

Pictures: Lockheed

Predominantly Bespoke Electronic Era

Pictures: MoD, Royal Navy, Army, Bohemia

Predominantly Consumer-Driven Digital Era

Military Simulation Trends

Military Access to Digital Simulation

1990

2000

2010

Numbers

10’s

100’s

1000’s

Processing Power (Moore’s Law)

Microsoft Flight Simulator

1980

1982

1984

1988

1989

1995

1996

1999

2001

2003

2006

2009

Modern Computer Games Based Simulation Software�Bohemia’s VBS2 (ArmA 2 Engine)

• Land Convoy Collective Training
• IED Training & Situational Awareness
• Aviation Tactics Training
• Gunnery and Crew Training
• Close Weapon Gunnery Training
• Anti-Piracy & Boarding Operations Training
• Fixed Wing Aviation Mission Training
• Maritime Submarine Training Capability
• Cultural Awareness & Language Training
• Engineer Training
• Army Recruiting
• E-Learning

Military & Civilian Technology Convergence?

And it’s not just Simulation….. 20 Years Ago

Now - Training and Education

and there’s more… Interfaces & Augmented Reality

and there’s even more…

“Internet of Things”

Sensors

Image Fitbit

Image Beam Technologies

Image Paul Sloan/CNET

Train Less.. Train at All?

Diluting the Human Experience?

andy.fawkes@thinke.co.uk

Putting Technology in Perspective