Spatial Disorientation (SD) / Awareness Training |
| SPATS Success Story as featured on DoD SBIR site |
| Feb 5th, 2007 - SPATS Press Release |
SPATS Computer-Based Training (CBT) and classroom indoctrination will inform trainees |
about the risks of SD, and will also describe scenarios during which SD is most likely to occur. |
| SPATS passive training simulators will provide refresher flight crews with an opportunity |
| to safely "fly" through SD inducing scenarios for the purpose of helping them recognize |
| SD during real-world flight conditions. |
| SPATS active training simulators will train pilots on how to recognize and recover from SD |
| problems in a safe, but realistic flight simulation environment. |
| SDS International, Inc. is continuing to develop a Spatial Awareness Training System for the |
| U.S. Navy under the USN Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. SBIR Phase II |
| efforts concentrate on developing an affordable, overall training system (including CBT, WBT, |
| and flight simulation) focused on reducing Spatial Disorientation (SD) incidents by creating |
| greater spatial awareness for crews of all experience levels. |
| SDS' SPATS solution will consist of classroom multimedia CBT/WBT, non-motion-based |
| flight simulation, and take-home SD recreation CDs for self-study refresher training. Use of |
| SDS' LiteFlite® Reconfigurable Flight Simulator with its PC-based AAcuity® Image Generator |
| (IG) will ensure the flexibility and high-fidelity visualization needed to develop scenarios that |
| present real-world situations to students and allow them to experience the effects of SD in |
| realistic, mission-oriented environments. Training scenarios will include a post-mission briefing |
| capability that describes what students saw, how they reacted and why they reacted a certain |
| way, as well as, recommended corrective actions. Additionally, the AAcuity® PC-IG facilitates |
| the rapid production of QuickTime™ movies form the scenarios for use in CBT and WBT |
| applications. |
| The primary SPATS focus will be on SD situations related to the full spectrum of day and night |
| non-NVG missions. However, the technologies involved also support training for missions with |
| sensor (NVG and FLIR) induced SD. The creation of the SPATS system will provide the Navy |
| with a flexible, cost-effective means to educate student pilots on the dangers of spatial |
| disorientation. Since spatial disorientation is a potential problem among all aviators -- and |
| potentially in all phases of flight -- the resultant product will have direct benefit to training |
| military, private, and commercial student pilots and aircrews. |
