RPA Electronic Solutions

The use of handheld and helmet mounted devices by the military continues on an upward trend in both volume and complexity. In the simulation world, it is a challenge to provide realistic recreations of many such devices. Traditional binoculars generally need to be simulated with a high resolution display housed in binocular packaging since the real world does not exist to view through optics. Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) are now being deployed as part of real world systems, but also often have the task of providing the simulation immersive display for trainee world view. Other sensor displays, such as night vision devices are deployed as helmet mounted additions, or hand held units.

The demand for better simulation of these components is critical to training effectiveness as they become an ever important element in modern warfare. In combat use, the hand’s free nature of these systems is a key component to their effectiveness. In addition, the desire for more portable training systems to allow for fielded units closer to actual theaters of operation have led to the need for smaller and smaller simulators. Generally, a major size constraint on a traditional simulator comes from the display system. The need for virtual imaging of large areas of scenery require large volumes of space. As such, a movement towards devices such as helmet mounted displays (HMD) becomes very appealing, allowing a great reduction in system size to be realized. But, as with handheld simulations, the high resolution video requirements of HMDs to present OTW imagery have required tethered solutions to provide reliable, cost effective video transmission to the display(s).

Simulator manufacturers often provide solutions for these systems that are less than desirable. If high resolution video is required, a tethered is utilized to allow for a cost effective solution which, of course is a detriment to range of motion. Current use of wireless data links to high performance portable displays has been limited by several key elements. Available bandwidth available over such links has not been suitable for supporting for high  resolution video in real time. And, existing video compression products that could be utilized have not provided sufficient reduction of this data or image quality to support demanding, high resolution video applications over network quality bandwidth.

A07-184 High Speed Wireless 3-D Video Transmission RPA Electronics Design, LLC to Support Virtual Dismounted Training (RPA Electronic Solutions, Inc)

Phase 2
Proposal # A2-30644

The developments to meet the demands of broadcast HDTV, internet video conferencing, and consumer home wireless networks, have created major improvements in these limiting arenas. Several new wireless technologies are being deployed that can achieve bandwidth on the order of 500 Mbps up to Gbps rates. Video compression products and standards (MPEG-4, H.264, MJPEG2000) have been updated to provide much higher quality results in the display of compressed video.

Simulation often has unique requirements not considered a problem for the broadcast or networking communities. This project proposes to take advantage of these new technologies by utilizing them in unique ways to develop a highly adaptable, modular solution toward creation of a system that can support very high resolution, high quality video transmission suitable for portable applications. The development also includes providing support for other 'sensor' and audio information, all while providing a highly secure data link.

The Phase I effort focused on the study of the state of the art of the following elements:

• RF Data Link Technology
• Video Compression Standards
• Secure Data Transmission
• A Proposed System Configuration for Realization
• Technology Demonstration using COTS products
  

Evaluations during the Phase 1 effort were made with respect to current HDTV standards, since the bulk of the commercial work found has been directed toward this market. As such, Table 1 has been updated from the original proposal work to reflect transmission of a single 1920 x 1080 display format, albeit operating in progressive scan, 60 Hz mode (as opposed to the 30 Hz interlaced format used in television). The 60 Hz progressive scan format has been used for evaluation here as it would better fit a training and simulation display environment as opposed to using an interlaced format (which can introduce visual artifacts that can be perceived with high motion scene content).