Rockwell, U of I, and IC IT Company Awarded Naval Contract

New concept aims to improve training effectiveness, efficiency for military

A team comprised of Rockwell Collins, Advanced Infoneering, Inc. (AI2) and The University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) has been awarded a Phase 2 contract by the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando. This contract will allow further development in a new concept for mass military training called Skill Appropriate Training Environment (SKATE). SKATE is aimed at ensuring that mass military training exercises are tailored to individual skill sets versus a ‘one fits all’ approach.

“SKATE is a very promising solution to problems that occur in large-scale exercises when lower-skilled participants experience training scenarios that are too advanced for them, and higher skilled trainees are underutilized,” explained Ken Schreder, vice president and general manager, Simulation & Training Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “This next phase of research will further advance SKATE by using our latest training technology to develop an assessment tool aimed at increasing training effectiveness, while also saving time and money for training organizations.”

In Phase 2, the team will conduct human factors studies using simulators and flight test assets at OPL in order to validate the SKATE concept by developing an initial prototype for a software-based assessment tool. This prototype will utilize the Rockwell Collins Instructor Operator Station (IOS) currently used in simulation and training programs for the military. The work will take place over the course of 2011.

The team’s ultimate goal is to integrate the SKATE system into existing military training programs.