From R.Hollands@sheffield.ac.uk Wed Apr 26 07:00:00 1995 Return-Path: Received: from mx5.u.washington.edu by stein2.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW95.02/UW-NDC Revision: 2.32 ) id AA21491; Wed, 26 Apr 95 07:00:00 -0700 Received: from hitl-new.hitl.washington.edu by mx5.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW95.02/UW-NDC Revision: 2.31 ) id AA21535; Wed, 26 Apr 95 06:59:59 -0700 Received: from pp2.shef.ac.uk (pp2.shef.ac.uk [143.167.1.32]) by hitl.hitl.washington.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id GAA02994 for ; Wed, 26 Apr 1995 06:55:24 -0700 Received: from eros.shef.ac.uk by pp2.shef.ac.uk with SMTP (PP); Wed, 26 Apr 1995 14:59:14 +0100 Received: From LADYBOWER/EROS_WORKQ by eros.shef.ac.uk via Charon-4.0A-VROOM with IPX id 100.950426145903.576; 26 Apr 95 15:00:13 +0000 Message-Id: From: ROBIN HOLLANDS To: ukvrsig@mailbase.ac.uk, scivw@hitl.washington.edu Date: Wed, 26 Apr 1995 14:55:42 +0100 Subject: VR in Bomb Disposal X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail/Windows (v1.22) X-Status: Priority: A Status: OR **DO NOT REPLY TO POSTER** Press Release 13 April 1995 For further information please contact: Maggie Templeman (Press Officer)/Dr John Chiplin (Managing Director) on +44 (0)1256 745745 VIRTUAL REALITY FOR BOMB DISPOSAL TRAINING Cray Systems, part of Cray Electronic Holdings, is using PC-based virtual reality software from Superscape Limited, to develop a computer-based training simulator for the "Wheelbarrow", the British Army's remotely controlled vehicle which is used to safely dispose of suspect devices and vehicles. These remote robots cost many tens of thousands of pounds, measure 4'x4'x3' and incorporate a complex user interface. Cray Systems has successfully connected the "Wheelbarrow" interface to the Superscape virtual reality system, using the SDK (Superscape Development Kit) facility within the software, in order to simulate the behaviour characteristics of the vehicle in a variety of different training scenarios. Cray Systems is using four Superscape systems, networked together, to provide multiple student training positions, principally for Ammunition Technical Officers and Ammunition Technicians of the Royal Logistics Corps. Scenarios created in Superscape include a street scene, a flight of steps and a test track, designed to help the students understand how the vehicle behaves as it travels over these different surfaces and improve their hand/eye co-ordination. Simulated targets include vehicles, wastepaper bins and unattended packages. Mark Swabey, Technical Manager for the company's Defence and Avionics Division said: "In the past the question of cost has been one of the main barriers to the widespread use of simulation systems. The client had to be able to afford Silicon Graphics hardware, together with the appropriate emulation software. For many organisations this type of system was completely beyond their financial means, although of course they still had the need. We started looking at PC-based systems in the early 90's. We identified that Superscape had developed a well-optimised virtual reality system and installed the first system in April 1993." He continued: "The ability to be able to network systems together is critical in this type of training environment: in the field it would be usual for two people to work in conjunction with each other. In addition, the VR simulation is far more productive method of training rather than having to schedule in use of the real equipment and, of course, it avoids expensive collateral damage.". Superscape VRT is a suite of integrated software modules, containing all the necessary editors to build and visualise virtual worlds. These include the World Editor (for world building and assigning intelligence and dynamics), the Shape Editor (for building block shapes), together with editors for Texture, Screen Layout, Keyboard, Sound, Dialogue and the DXF Import and Export facility. The software includes a library of over two hundred ready-made virtual objects and over twenty example worlds. The Visualiser which is available as a stand alone product, supervises the real-time visualisation of virtual worlds. The software has been designed to run on standard 486 and Pentium PCs. Superscape Limited Cromwell House Bartley Wood Business Park Hook, Hampshire RG27 9XA ** DO NOT REPLY TO POSTER ** Robin***************************************************************** * Robin Hollands : * * Reply to: : e-mail: * * s-mail: : R.Hollands@Sheffield.ac.uk * * AC&SE Dept. :---------------------------------* * Sheffield University : 'Just because something doesn't * * Mappin Street : do what you planned it to do * * Sheffield S1 4DU -- UK -- : doesn't mean it's useless.' * * voice +44 (0)114 2335622/2825186 : - T.Edison * * fax +44 (0)114 2731729 : * **********************************************************************