Navy Working Capital Fund - DON FM&C Website

FY2010-2012Greater than $1M:Operations Research Immersive & Optimization Network1. Operations Research Immersive and Optimization Network (ORION) is necessary to support Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's (NAWCAD) effort to use modeling and simulation to analyzeand streamline aviation shipboard operations. ORION provides the resources to visualize the ship state dynamically as various ship systems are exercised, straining both physical space and personnelresources. An immersive presentation technique allows subject matter experts (SMEs) to easily see what is going on, experience the problem, and possibly formulate a solution without ever reading asimulation report, or viewing model data.2. The Immersive Design and Optimization Environment (IDOS) system currently employed to accomplish much of the visualization tasks at NAWCAD provides only one of a set of solutions toaccomplish the visualization, and is currently capable of only helping a single customer at a time. ORION will provide additional services for more simultaneous customers, and will be less expensive thanbefore. The Modeling and Simulation spaces at Lakehurst will be revitalized with the addition of more resolute projectors and modern computer systems. ORION will augment this with new technologiessuch as stereo projection, head mounted displays, 3D plasma displays (which do not require glasses), Virtual Reality (VR) tablets, and Web technologies. All enhancements will enable the proper level ofemersion to be provided to the customer, in a less restrictive manner than is currently possible, and in the location where the system is being tested. Two specific areas can finally be addressed. They arethe maintenance and team VR. In addressing maintenance, VR can help with assembly issues, parts and tool placement, and space arrangement (as in weapon assembly magazines). Team VR allows eachperson to see the others but move and act independently in the environment. This will allow several designers to use the VR space as a team would on the ship. Currently, VR is generally used from asingle person perspective. Web technologies will also be available in ORION. VR can then be more easily shared with remote sites with little or no specialized equipment, allowing more broad basedcollaboration. Through the use of the existing network, these views of the ship's state will be synchronized, and present the same view to all those participating. These views of ship state will be generatedby a series of process models, starting with the flight deck and working down to the lower levels of the ship (as in the case for weapons).3. An economic analysis has been performed for this project included in this capability.4. The anticipated cost avoidance for the equipment in this capability will begin in the next fiscal year.5. If investment is not made, NAWC will be limited in the ability to support the programs for developing enhanced capabilities in modeling and simulation and virtual reality.Exhibit Fund 9B Capital Investment Justification