Distributed Interactive for RAN Training Peter Ryan 1, Peter Clark 2, and Lucien Zalcman 2 1 Maritime Operations Division, 2 Air Operations Division, Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory, Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO), PO Box 4331, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia ABSTRACT The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) plans to use Distributed Interactive (DIS) to enhance its team training capability. Initially it is planned to link trainers at the same location and later connect these to other external trainers and live assets both in port and at sea. Linking manned simulators helps to more closely imitate operational environments with different platforms (ships/aircraft) interacting and will provide more sophisticated and effective command team training for the RAN s surface warfare fleet. DIS will also allow these disparate simulators to be linked to the outside world for a wider range of tactical training. Integration of the trainers will also provide the ancillary benefits of course length reductions, system manning efficiencies, and increasing the training environment fidelity. 1. INTRODUCTION Surface warfare training for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is undertaken at the RAN Surface Warfare School (RANSWARS) at HMAS WATSON in Sydney. This training encompasses individual skills training, command team training, and simulated task group level tactical training. Ship operations room simulators are used for command team and Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) training. The Command Team Training (CTT) facilities are undergoing significant upgrades. The recently installed DDG Operations Team Training Facility (OTTF) is being upgraded to include the Frigate (FFG7) to form the Integrated Operations Team Training Facility (IOTTF), while a separate ANZAC Ship Combat System Team Trainer (CSTT) will be installed in 1996. These trainers must be integrated to provide effective CTT for the RAN s surface warfare fleet. However, there are significant differences between their design and implementation: the IOTTF has been designed primarily as a command team trainer with its linked DDG and FFG operations rooms and additional assets whereas the CSTT, as contracted, is better described as a tactical team and operator skills trainer which can also provide a lower level of CTT. For the CSTT to provide a similar high level of CTT, it must be linked to the IOTTF so that the operations room crew can participate in simulated exercises with additional assets. Navy Project SEA 1412 seeks initially to link these trainers to form the foundation of the Maritime Warfare Training Centre (MWTC) which will be used for command team training and tactical development [1]. The mechanism for providing the integration has been established as Distributed Interactive (DIS) [2]. DIS allows real-time communication between simulators which helps to more closely imitate operational environments through enabling different platforms (ships/aircraft etc) to interact [3]. This paper addresses the critical issues involved in integrating the IOTTF with the ANZAC Ship trainer, and examines options for future expansion of the training system beyond HMAS WATSON. 2. PROJECT SEA 1412 An Action Information Organisation Tactical Trainer (AIOTT) was installed at HMAS WATSON in 1975 which provided CTT with four interactive models representing an aircraft carrier (upper and lower decks), Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG), Destroyer Escort (DE), and a generic ship. The facility was controlled by a mainframe computer system which was decommissioned in 1993. The AIOTT has been replaced by the IOTTF which will simulate both the Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG2) and Frigate (FFG7), and the ANZAC ship CSTT which will be installed in 1996. These will be physically separate, independent systems with no option for task group CTT between the FFG/DDG/ANZAC simulators such as provided by the older AIOTT. Navy Project SEA 1412 was initially proposed to restore RANSWARS original capability to effectively provide CTT and tactical development for the RAN s major surface combatants [1]. Project 1412 will exploit advances in simulation technology to position the RAN to meet maritime training requirements into the 21st century. The Project is planned to be developed in three phases: Phase 1: Project Definition Study Phase 2: Integration of IOTTF and CSTT within RANSWARS to form the Maritime Warfare Training Centre (MWTC) Phase 3: Systematic development of the MWTC to allow integration with the RAN s On Board Training Systems (OBTS) and other ADF simulators.
3. INTEGRATION OF DDG/FFG TRAINER WITH THE ANZAC TRAINER will be accurate and realistic. A block diagram of the CSTT simulator is given below as Figure 2. 3.1 Existing RAN Surface Warfare Trainers The existing trainers at RANSWARS consist of the IOTTF which has functionally simulated operations rooms, using commercial equipment with a simulated world and a full monitor/debriefing facility and the ANZAC CSTT which will utilise military specification hardware and software [4]. Comms & Control Instructor Consoles World Processors Debrief Large Screen Display LAN The IOTTF will provide DDG and FFG models operating within the same synthetic environment with various cubicles configured as assets such as helicopters and other ships. The system is controlled by a monitor room which enables game and scenario preparation, game control and recording. Communications, sensor, and weapons modelling are included together with weapon profiles. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the IOTTF. FFG multifunction display VME Bus FFG Ship World VME Bus DDG Ship DDG multifunction display 10 Monitor Stations Ship Outstation 12 Consort & Asset Cubicles Officer of the Watch Large Screen Display Link 11 Ethernet Record/ Debrief Support Panels Voice Comms Multi-Function Consoles Weapon/Sensor standard Interface Units Comms & control Processor Communications & Control LAN Figure 2: Simplified block diagram of the ANZAC Ship Combat System Team Trainer The CSTT was designed using stimulation methodology [5] with the milspec consoles and combat system stimulated by synthetic inputs. This provides greater realism at the operator console level since actual equipment is connected to the simulation and thus an appropriate environment for operator skills training. However, the use of the CSTT as a command team trainer is limited since only six instructor consoles are provided and these will be mostly used for game control and monitoring. The CSTT employs a spherical earth representation necessary to communicate with the milspec ANZAC Command & Control (C 2 ) system. and has a maximum of 520 entities in its games. This spherical earth representation is also more commonly used within modern simulators. Figure 1: Simplified block diagram of the Integrated Operations Team Training Facility The simulation methodology employed by the IOTTF may be broadly described as emulation following the taxonomy of Fray [5]. The consoles are emulated and the underlying combat system is emulated in software with simulated inputs. A flat-earth representation is used with a constant depth ocean. A maximum of 300 entities can be used for games. Up to two independent sessions, or simulations, can be in progress within the IOTTF at any one time. The ANZAC Ship trainer is scheduled to be installed at HMAS WATSON in 1996. The CSTT uses milspec hardware and software so that crews will train on actual equipment driven by operational software. This system will interact with a simulated world which can provide both simulation and stimulation to the milspec equipment. The CSTT will include its own monitor workstations to control the game and record/debrief. Sensor and weapon modelling The IOTTF and CSTT training simulators have distinct differences as summarised in Table 1. Table 1: Summary of IOTTF/CSTT differences Methodology Design Philosophy IOTTF Emulation - functionally simulated consoles; NCDS, COTS hardware Top down; command team trainer CSTT Stimulation - Milspec consoles connected to real C 2 and then to simulated equipment Bottom up; tactical team training; skills training Other assets 12 asset cubicles None as contracted Coordinate System Combat System Training Flat earth Naval Combat Data System (USN system) PWO/Operator/ Command Team training Spherical earth CelsiusTech Operator/limited Command Team training
3.2 The Training Requirement The primary use of both the IOTTF and ANZAC CSTT is to conduct CTT for ships crews. A realistic simulated maritime environment is needed which requires provision of training for the ship s internal Action Information Organisation (AIO). In addition, the ship, as an element of a larger force, contributes to a task group s picture compilation and can control external assets such as consorts, organic helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Training effectiveness depends on a number of key simulation features including: (a) a remotely driven enemy under the control of the training staff; (b) scripted merchant shipping and civil aircraft providing background neutral traffic; and (c) manned, real-time, friendly assets and consorts which can act under immediate radio/link direction of the Command Team, and contribute in real time by either radio or data link to tactical picture compilation. The IOTTF has been specifically designed to provide these CTT features providing a simultaneous two-game facility with DDG and FFG models, 10 Monitor/Instructor stations which can be used for game coordination, instructor interaction and control of enemy forces; and Asset Cubicles (both single station and dual station) to provide manned support vehicles including ships, aircraft and outstations such as sonar and bridge. Further, any of the IOTTF s Instructor/Asset positions can be configured to participate in either of the two simultaneous sessions of which the IOTTF is capable. In contrast, the ANZAC CSTT as contracted, has been designed primarily to provide tactical team and operator training, with a milspec ANZAC operations room model and six Monitor/Instructor stations. Despite simulation features allowing rapid vehicle manoeuvring control, scripting and additional radio outlets for Instructors, the six Instructor/Monitor stations of the ANZAC CSTT will not be able to support the real-time manned vehicle requirements of CTT. In addition there is no provision for task force training with the IOTTF. The broad alternatives to providing the required capability for CTT are: 1. Design and procure a new training facility. 2. Conduct additional training at sea. 3. Use existing, limited, stand-alone facilities. 4. Carry out complete or additional training overseas. 5. Integration of Trainers. The first four options are either too expensive, inefficient, or inappropriate. The most effective and efficient option is to link the existing simulators so that the required training can be carried out ashore. 3.3 Training Benefits of Integrating Simulators Linking the IOTTF and CSTT simulators will provide considerable benefits for conducting CTT at HMAS WATSON. Networking the two simulators will allow both systems to operate in the same game and thus provide combined ANZAC and DDG/FFG training. It will allow full task group CTT with manned DDG, FFG, and ANZAC operations room models. This will: (a) produce considerable time reductions for some courses resulting in greater training throughput. (b) result in system manning efficiencies since a single monitor room can control both trainers. (c) result in significant training advantages due to a more realistic training facility. Operating with or against other manned trainers can substantially increase the reality and tension in a game by providing greater fidelity and realism. The human element provides the inherent unpredicability (fog of war) similar to that found in real wartime scenarios resulting in enhanced CTT. 3.4 Justification for using DIS Networking the two trainers is an essential requirement for conducting CTT at RANSWARS. The most efficient and flexible means of achieving the integration is to use DIS which is an accepted international standard (ref. [3])- developed to connect simulators. Use of DIS will preserve the substantial investment in the existing simulators and also provide a path to future expansion. DIS is a networking protocol standard that provides a method of communicating entity state and other information such as radar and sonar emissions through so-called Protocol Data Units (PDUs). These PDUs consist of network packets which are broadcast over the simulation network. Standards for DIS PDUs are developed under the guidance of the DIS Coordinating Committee based in the US and using the IEEE standards approval process. DIS is an evolving standard. DIS version 1.0 had only 10 PDUs primarily to support simulated tank warfare [6]. Additional PDUs have since been added to provide voice radio, tactical data links, simulation management, and electromagnetic emissions for electronic warfare [7]. DIS enables capabilities to be cost effectively enhanced by using Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) packages. PC based systems can already provide data logging and playback for post exercise debriefs, situation awareness and simple scenario development / additional asset capabilities. Out-of-the-window Magic Carpet viewports can be provided using graphics capable workstations. Complex and
comprehensive scenario development and tactical environment packages are also available. DIS will also allow the RANSWARS simulators to be linked to the outside world for a wider range of tactical training. DIS connectivity will enable linkages to On Board Training Systems on ships stationed in port and at sea which would enable ship crews to undertake CTT on their own vessels using real equipment. DIS would also allow linkages to other DIS-enabled simulators to participate in larger scale combined exercises on an opportunity basis. Further in the future a DIS capability will enable RANSWARS to participate in international simulation exercises. 3.5 Combined Operation of Simulators using DIS: Critical Issues There are various critical issues that arise from linking the RANSWARS simulators using DIS. These are discussed in the following sections. 3.5.1 Game Scenarios The linked simulators will provide the means to carry out CTT at tactical and operational levels on three major fleet surface assets (DDG/FFG/ANZAC) by simulating many aspects of naval warfare. The use of DIS will ensure that the system can be upgraded to take advantage of future technology advances and can be expanded to include additional training simulators. The combined system should perform so that entities (eg helicopters, missiles) generated by one simulator can transparently interact in real time with any other simulator entities generated using DIS. This necessitates data exchange for an integrated DIS exercise including entity information for both platforms (ships, submarines, aircraft) and munitions (missiles, torpedoes, etc.), tactical data links and voice comms between these entities, weapons fire, and also electromagnetic emissions for electronic warfare (EW) and acoustic emissions for underwater warfare. The computational subsystems used to implement DIS must be sufficiently powerful to prevent any discernible latencies in transferring data between the simulators. 3.5.2 DIS Gateways for Each Trainer The DIS gateways on both the IOTTF and CSTT simulators will essentially perform two major functions: (a) They transform DIS PDUs to an internal simulator format and vice versa, discarding those which are irrelevant. (b) They provide a communications interface into the wide area DIS environment via an ethernet connection on a dedicated simulation Local Area Network (LAN) at HMAS WATSON. This LAN can also connect via a WAN to other DIS-enabled simulators on their own LANs. 3.5.3 PDU types required for Trainer Integration It will not be necessary to implement all PDU types to achieve the initial networking of the simulators. With collocation in the same building it should be sufficient to implement Entity State, Fire, Detonation and Emission PDUs. Together with appropriate voice communications between the simulators, implementation of these PDUs will suffice to run initial exercises. Depending on scenario requirements, Radio Communications (voice and data links), Logistics, and possibly Management PDUs may be implemented later. This is summarised in the following Table. Entity State Fire Detonation Table 2: PDU types required. PDU Type Essential Optional Logistics Collision Management To integrate the IOTTF and CSTT using DIS requires that each contractor implements the coupling to the internationally accepted DIS standard and does not require exchange of commercial-in-confidence information. To ensure compliant implementation of the DIS protocols, accreditation by a third party is strongly recommended. The Institute of and Training, at the University of Central Florida, can provide such accreditation. Such an accreditation process considerably increases the probability that the IOTTF, CSTT and any other DIS-enabled simulators on the network interact correctly. Emissions Radio Communications
3.5.4 Other Critical Issues for Trainer Integration Voice Communications: Voice communications can be implemented using DIS Radio Communication PDUs. However, initially the simulated navy wargames will only be played at HMAS WATSON so that the voice comms may be more cost-effectively implemented using direct links rather than through DIS. Both simulators use a digital switch arrangement to control the internal/external communications circuits. The best place for interconnection of the two simulators communications circuits would be at each respective digital switch. The CSTT voice communications emulate the communications in the ANZAC Ship. This is a configurable digital switch which routes the voice to the various Remote User Stations or to the radios. The ANZAC voice comms simulator currently routes all communications, whether radio or intercom, to the instructors. At present, there is no provision for connection to externally supplied audio so that the simulator will require modifications to communicate with external radio circuits. Currently, the IOTTF implements voice communications using analogue technology (although the underlying voice switch uses digital technology internally). The availability of technology and products to implement the internal IOTTF requirement in a fully digital fashion is currently being investigated. Data Link: RAN ships employ the Link-11 communications system which allows participating units to share in compilation of the tactical picture. Link-11 provides a twoway digital link for interchange of track data, weapon system status and commands between NCDS ships. The CSTT Link-11 simulator is designed to generate all the messages from other vehicles in the Link-11 network and pass these to the real C 2 system. It would therefore require some modification to allow an external simulator to inject messages into the message stream. Further modification would be required to pass the real C 2 generated messages out to an external simulator. It will require further analysis to determine if other Link-11 simulators can be integrated in this way. IOTTF currently simulates a Link-11 type of connection between participating units (FFG and/or DDG Operations Rooms and Assets), and this could conceivably be extended to the external environment using DIS Radio Communications PDUs. However, inclusion of real assets into the DIS environment, by way of mooted OBTS on platforms such as FFG, raises the issue of segregation of these Link-11 PDUs from any live Links which may exist Coordinate System and Landmass: The IOTTF employs a flat earth coordinate system whereas the CSTT employs the internationally accepted spherical coordinate system (WGS 84 [8]) which is more accurate and is used in most modern simulators. The flat earth representation needs to be converted to the WGS 84 spherical representation which is also the standard used by DIS. The IOTTF generates an internal representation of coastlines from World Vector Shoreline data. These data can be edited within IOTTF without restriction. Any wider simulation must have mechanisms to ensure that consistent coastline representations are used by all participants. Currently the CSTT uses landmass files derived from the NSW Central Mapping Authority. A conversion program will be required to convert from the DIS landmass files into the CSTT internal format. If the data are not in the form of contours, then a utility will be required to first convert from vector representation into contours. Number of Entities: The IOTTF allows for a maximum of 300 entities in its games whereas the CSTT allows for a maximum of 520. These are upper design limits for any conceivable exercise involving RAN assets, however the situation may arise when the CSTT has a greater number of entities in its game than the IOTTF can handle. In each simulator intelligent filtering is required to organise and prioritise the incoming DIS PDUs at the DIS interface. Only entities which affect the behaviour of each simulator need to be recognised. Scenario Management: A distributed simulation may encompass many different types of systems and the number of entities in an exercise can grow to thousands. As the network traffic increases, exercise direction and filtering control is critical to successfully manage the scenario. In DIS, a computer can be designated as the Manager to performs exercise management functions via simulation management PDUs such as: Start, Restart, Maintenance, and Shutdown of an exercise. From this workstation, a DIS exercise manager will be able to utilise the simulation management software to control all the entities (live, constructive and virtual) on the synthetic battlefield. At early stages of the project, simulation management PDUs should not be necessary because the two simulators will be in the same building under the management of the same training staff. However, scenario management will be an important issue for HMAS WATSON as games expand in scope. Games which include both simulators will have to be carefully scripted to ensure that all command teams (potentially DDG, FFG and ANZAC) receive training value from the integrated game. Logistic Support and Operating Cost: DIS is an evolving standard so that to maintain concurrence with the latest standard, and thus participate effectively in international exercises, it will be necessary to maintain the gateway(s) at RANSWARS so that the latest IEEE DIS standard is supported.
Security Implications: Security issues will also need to be addressed. If classified systems are to be connected across the network then approved encryption devices will be required. Security mechanisms within the MWTC must be compatible internally at RANSWARS and also externally when connected to other simulators and trainers. 4. EXTENSION BEYOND HMAS WATSON When Phase 2 of SEA 1412 is complete, RANSWARS will have a training system implemented on a LAN providing fully integrated training for the DDG, FGG, and ANZAC ships with two dissimilar linked trainers located in the same building. This system may also include a linked trainer for the forthcoming Offshore Patrol Vehicle (OPV) and a wargaming facility. Phase 3 of SEA 1412 requires extension of this training system beyond the confines of HMAS WATSON in Sydney. RANSWARS has proposed extending the MWTC to form the Maritime Warfare Training System (MWTS) which will comprise three DIS-based nodes: the MWTC at RANSWARS, and two local area networks at Fleet Base East (in Sydney) and West (Perth) as shown in Figure 3 [9]. Each of these nodes could also be equipped with a basic control simulator to conduct CTT independently of the MWTC. Exercises with these real assets will be conducted by stimulating their On Board Training Systems (OBTS). The linkages would be implemented as a Wide Area Network (WAN). This MWTS will provide training for the two-ocean based Navy without requiring expensive collocation of assets. The MWTC would provide manned assets, instructor supervision, and game control and debriefing for exercises involving both live and simulated assets across a large synthetic operating area. Australian Defence Force (ADF) simulators such as the Seahawk simulator, P3C simulator, etc., to participate in larger scale combined exercises over a wide area network (WAN) on an opportunity basis. Further in the future a DIS capability will enable RANSWARS to participate in international simulated exercises. 5. CONCLUSION Advances in simulation technology have provided the means to connect dissimilar geographically separate simulators so that they can participate in the same virtual world for team training. The RAN is taking advantage of these technology advances to substantially enhance their surface warfare training and improve combat readiness for the 21st century. In the first phase of this upgrade, existing and planned team trainers for the DDG/FFG and ANZAC Ship will be integrated at HMAS WATSON using Distributed Interactive. Linking these simulators will provide command team training for major fleet assets of the Australian Navy - the DDG, FFG, and the new ANZAC Ship. This will enable these assets to participate in the same simulated wargame to provide the required level of training. In addition, it will reduce training time and provide system manning efficiencies. Operating the trainers in the same game should also substantially increase the reality and tension bringing the synthetic exercise closer in fidelity to a real operation and result in enhanced training. Later phases will involve extension of the training facility beyond HMAS WATSON to include ships in port and at sea. The use of DIS will enable training scenarios scripted by RANSWARS staff to be exercised across both real ships using stimulation of their sensors and combat systems and the shore based trainers at HMAS WATSON using DIS. When they become available other ADF simulators will also be able to participate in exercise scenarios using the DIS network. 6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Fleet Base West DIS LAN Node ANZAC CSTT OPV ADF Simulators Wide Area DIS Network Maritime Warfare Training Centre Node IOTTF Wargame Stations Fleet Base East DIS LAN Node DDG MODEL FFG MODEL The authors would like to acknowledge the considerable assistance provided by CAPT Biscoe and his staff at RANSWARS, HMAS WATSON and also the assistance of Mr Peter Tromans and his staff at British Aerospace Australia and Mr Mike Norsa and his staff at Computer Sciences Corporation Australia. Figure 3: Maritime Warfare Training System During later stages of the development of the MWTS, DIS connectivity would also allow linkages to other DIS-enabled
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