Experts at Visual Presence Ltd. and Alenia Marconi Systems are using the TDZ 2000 ViZual Workstations from Intergraph Computer Systems in Huntsville, Ala., to power the United Kingdom`s Royal Air Force (RAF) F3 Tornado aircraft multiple-display maintenance training simulators developed by Virtual Presence Ltd.
Virtual Presence and Alenia Marconi Systems have successfully developed the initial simulator to mark the end of the first phase for creation of the RAF Tornado Training Facility, which will enable up to eight students to be trained in avionics maintenance routines in a classroom environment. Intergraph Computer Systems will supply 10 systems — each to support three screens.
"Intergraph`s TDZ 2000 ViZual Workstations allow us to simulate multiple maintenance scenarios with unbelievable realism," says Stuart Cupit, technical director of Virtual Presence. "By simulating testing or maintenance of electrical, mechanical, and computerized systems aboard the aircraft we are providing valuable experience to aircraft ground crew to ensure their technical expertise."
The TDZ 2000 was the only system capable of providing a multiple graphics pipe solution for the three-screen display and the large amount of texture memory required to support the graphics and system throughput to simulate the photorealistic and high-fidelity interactive Tornado training scenarios, Intergraph officials say.
Intergraph Computer Systems` TDZ 2000s with Intense3D Wildcat 4000 graphics drive a networked multi-workstation classroom simulator that features three screens, each displaying different working views of the aircraft, avionics bays Line Replacement Units and/or virtual test equipment. The TDZ 2000 provides realism, detail, and interactivity to create a virtual aircraft shell and cockpit for both the pilot and navigator positions for real-time maintenance simulations that provide true-to-life repair procedure training.
Virtual Presence`s 3D modeling team is under contract to Alenia Marconi Systems. — J.M.
For more information on the TDZ 2000 ViZual Workstations contact Intergraph computer systems by phone at 1-800-763-0242 or on the World Wide Web at http://www.intergraph.com/ics.
