FAKESPACE DELIVERS VISUALIZATION SYSTEM FOR ARMY RESEARCH.

Fakespace Systems Inc., Kitchner, Ontario, has delivered a reconfigurable visualization system as part of an Immersive Environment Simulator, used to study how soldiers use equipment in combat zones, at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The RAVE II(TM) visualization system consists of three detachable, large-scale stereoscopic display units that ARL uses to project realistic imagery of simulated hostile environments.

The RAVE II is one part of the Tactical Environment Simulation Facility at ARL, which includes two adjoining simulation environments. One is a stereoscopic projection-based Hostile Environment Simulator that includes a 155 decibel sound system. The second part, called the Immersive Environment Simulator, integrates the RAVE II with motion tracking and an omni-directional treadmill to allow soldiers to literally run and move in any direction within virtual hostile terrain and combat conditions.

"We selected the RAVE II for the immersive simulator because of its large size and flexible configuration," said Bruce Amrein, Chief of the Visual and Auditory Processing Branch at the Army Research Laboratory. "Fakespace was able to provide a custom-designed system that met our very particular requirements."

The RAVE II at the ARL is a reconfigurable stereoscopic display system consisting of three self-contained 10-ft x 12.5-ft rear-projected modules that can be arranged to form a flat wall display, an immersive theater, or an enclosed CAVE(R)-like environment. As part of the Immersive Environment Simulator it is used in conjunction with an immersive sound system consisting of 44 loudspeakers. It is the first system of its type to ever include an omni-directional treadmill, and it also has an extremely accurate inertial acoustic position measuring system, which enables visualizations to track in real time with the user's changing point of view. SGI was prime contractor for the $2.5 million project, and the Immersive Environment Simulator is driven by an SGI Onyx supercomputer.

The new facility will be used for human factors studies on pre-prototype hardware and software, such as new helmet designs and target acquisition systems. As part of the laboratory's Objective Force Warrior program, the immersive systems will also be used to evaluate how increased information, and different ways of accessing and presenting information, will affect soldiers' performance. Among a variety of proposed research studies, it will also be used in a project to determine if dismounted soldiers can successfully control one or more battlefield robots.

"The new tactical environment simulation facility at ARL is an exceptional resource for human factors research in warfare," said Carol Leaman, president of Fakespace Systems. "By creating a research facility where the most advanced technology can be applied to the study of soldier performance under highly controlled conditions, the U.S. Army will make discoveries that increase the safety and effectiveness of the armed forces on the battlefield and as a result, increase security worldwide."

The RAVE was customized to meet ARL's needs. The screen size is larger than standard RAVE units and it was designed to sit 18 inches above the floor in order to accommodate the omni-directional treadmill. It incorporates three Mirage 6000 projectors from Christie. These are exceptionally bright digital projectors that provide extremely sharp images and true colors.

A second RAVE II system with a 20-foot edge-blended center wall module will be installed at ARL in early 2003.

About ARL

With headquarters at the Adelphi Laboratory Center, Adelphi, Maryland and five other U.S. locations, the Army Research Laboratory's mission is to provide innovative science, technology, and analyses to enable full spectrum operations. More information on ARL can be found at http://www.arl.army.mil.

About Fakespace Systems Inc.

Fakespace Systems provides products for better insight, communications and collaboration in automotive, manufacturing, military, aerospace, geophysical exploration, biotechnology and scientific research organizations. The company designs and manufactures immersive displays and interactive devices, and integrates complete visualization solutions providing Better Ways to Create and Communicate(TM). Fakespace Systems is headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The company has U.S. offices in Novi, Mich.; Houston, Texas; San Diego, Calif.; San Francisco, Calif.; and Rockville, Md., and European offices based in the United Kingdom and France. In November 2002, the company announced that it signed a letter of intent to merge its business with Mechdyne Corporation.

For more information visit http://www.fakespacesystems.com, or call 519/741-3785.