Press Releases 2004

BUILDING on the success of Virtalis’ Virtual Reality Helicopter Voice Marshalling Trainer, upgrades for which were delivered to the RAF last year, the company has now developed an easily administered, portable variant. It is aimed at the world defence community, those involved in air transportation, coastguards and air sea rescue.

Andrew Connell, Virtalis technical director, explained: “By using a low cost, standard PC, which works from a single graphics card, we have created an off the shelf product which takes only ten minutes to set up. We have been able to harness developments in computing power so it offers advances in graphics quality, performance and user interfaces. The rest of the system consists of a head-mounted display, a tracking system, 2 LCD panels and a joystick. Like our bespoke RAF system, it features three marshalling environments, sea, land and coastline, though in recognition of the variety of helicopters in use around the world, it can feature different models. It is simple to customise, so that new local terrain can be easily generated. The basic system, complete with a year’s support, will cost a shade under £100,000. Tailored systems for different helicopters and/or familiar landscapes will cost a bit more”.

End to BAE physical prototypes

Astute Class Submarine BAE Systems is at the forefront of companies bringing simulation and Virtual Reality (VR) visualisation technologies into the design environment. For more than a decade, specialist company Virtalis has supported BAE Systems Submarines in its exploration of this field. The company has designed and built two VR suites for BAE Systems and continues to supply ongoing consultancy.

John Martin, consultant engineer at BAE Systems Submarines, commented: “VR visualisation technologies are not treated as a specialist technology, but rather have been implemented as an everyday tool. More people from different disciplines are getting involved earlier in the design’s evolution. Since installation, the VR visualisation technologies have been extensively used on a daily basis by design and build teams on warship and submarine contracts including: LPD’s (Landing Platform Dock), Type 45 Destroyer, Future Carrier, fleet auxiliary oil tankers and nuclear submarines. The system has also been used on ship concept design studies (aircraft carriers, surface warships and submarines) as a means of addressing key design issues, introducing simulation-based design technologies and reviewing design solution options with the customer. It has contributed to the introduction of concurrent design and to the synchronisation of an integrated design and build plan.

Virtalis links up with AVI360

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VIRTALIS, the advanced visualisation specialists, has formed a working partnership with Winchester-based, AVI360.

HEAD UP Displays have been in use by military aircraft for years. They display all the information a pilot needs to carry out his mission. A couple of years ago, Future Systems Technology, QinetiQ, Farnborough and the Flight Research Laboratory of the National Research Council, Canada in Ottawa decided to conduct joint research into whether similar systems could be developed for helicopter pilots.

NRC has one of the very few facilities in the world that is able to virtually replicate every pilot action and QinetiQ has extensive experience in system development of this type. Trials were performed under the aegis of The Technical Co-operation Programme, where information is shared between member countries.

Immersive Attraction Technology

Kalamazoo Screen and Seating British leading light in the advanced visualisation sector Virtalis Limited has brought a technological edge to the new generation of 3D and 4D theatre projects – demonstrated by their involvement as a key supplier in supporting the leading developer AI Group at the award winning Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, which opened in May and is located midway between Chicago and Detroit in the United States.

Virtalis has developed the primary means to present the required immersive experience for the new generation of mid-size theatre attractions. In the case of the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, Virtalis was commissioned by the primary contractor, the AI Group, to supply and install their unique ‘StereoServer’ package that allows the 3D visuals to be presented via multiple projectors onto a 60-foot 180 degree wraparound screen.

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