InterSense selected by Raydon to support MRAP Virtual Trainer

InterSense Incorporated, a market leader in precision motion technology, today announced it is extending its long-standing relationship with Raydon to supply advanced inertial tracking technology for the Raydon Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicle Virtual Trainer (MRAP-VTT) system. InterSense's InertiaCube2+ and InertiaCube3 orientation sensors will be seamlessly integrated into the MRAP-VTT system, to provide the highly accurate personnel and weapons tracking which is essential to delivering realism in a virtual training environment. Realistic training helps prepare US troops for real-world combat situations found in military operations worldwide.

The MRAP-VTT system is designed to train troops in basic and advanced skills for mounted combat patrols, route clearance operations, tactical movements, convoy operations and presence patrols overseas. The system allows teams of up to 22 soldiers to practice combat techniques and procedures while encountering the latest enemy tactics from geospecific combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan - all prior to their actual deployment there. Each training system will feature InterSense InertiaCube sensors combined with either a head mounted display (HMD) or a training weapon.

When used with an HMD, InertiaCube2 technology provides head tracking over an immersive, 360º field of view in a simulated environment that contains recognizable structures and terrain. Soldiers engage in a variety of scenarios - from handling sniper fire, RPGs and IEDs to navigating civilian activity, traffic and pedestrians - while the sensors track their movements, to better hone response skills for real-world combat.

When combined with Raydon's software, the InertiaCube3 detects the orientation of a soldier's weapon as well as trigger pulls, the number of rounds left in the magazine clip, the trajectory of the bullets fired, and hits vs. misses. The specially integrated configuration - which includes a tactile interface and internally-routed cabling -- provides for a highly realistic experience, which in turn, can generate more reliable and transferable training results.

"Accuracy and realism are the key components of a successful simulation and training solution and InterSense is proud to partner with Raydon again to deliver on both counts," said Mike Donfrancesco, vice president of sales and marketing for InterSense. "By combining our sensor technology with their MRAP-VTT system, we are creating extraordinarily life-like environments with the most accurate personnel and weapons tracking available - all to ensure our armed services perform safely and effectively in the field."

Raydon was awarded the $36 million Army National Guard contract in July 2010 and expects to complete 11 training systems for delivery next year. A highly flexible system, the MRAP-VTT can be networked to the Virtual Convoy Trainer (VCCT) and the Virtual Convoy Operations Trainer (VCOT), each of which is also supported by InterSense sensors. This commonality provides for flexible configurations and training scenarios with the ability to train up to 22 soldiers simultaneously - helping to save time and money, especially when compared to conventional live training.

Source: InterSense

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