Providing Effective and Efficient Training: A Model for Comparing Simulator Improvements
Abstract
Training programs for warfighters have become increasingly dependent on the use of simulation systems, made necessary by the growing costs of live flight training. The transition to a greater dependence on simulators has required an increase in concerns about the ability of simulators to provide effective training. Research in the area of simulator fidelity has focused primarily on training capabilities, evaluating current systems for strengths and weaknesses. The evaluation of current systems is an essential component in providing the best possible training environment to pilots; however, the impact of improvements is of equal importance. An informed decision about which changes will have the greatest benefit for warfighter readiness would provide a means of maximizing the return on the investment in the development of the system and creating the most efficient and effective training environment possible. The current work presents a process by which system deficiencies and potential solutions are identified and then integrated into quantitative models based on multiple factors. The factors included in the model are potential for improvement, training gaps, extent to which solutions address deficiencies, material costs of solutions, and time costs of solutions. A project manager and engineers provided feedback in three areas: the extent to which a solution addresses a deficiency, the cost of the technology, and the engineering hours involved in the change. Three models were computed and compared across solutions, revealing the utility of the empirical process. The models included in the comparison varied the weights within and across factors, establishing the importance of determining appropriate weightings. The process and algorithm presented in the current work have far reaching practical applications as a tool for assisting in the decision-making process during development and improvement of training technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA508205
Entities
People
- Brian T. Schreiber
- Justin H. Prost
- Kenneth Kleinlein
- Winston Bennett Jr.