TITAN and TROJAN: Simulations Development

SELEX Systems Integration (formerly VEGA) is collaborating with BAE Land Systems, formerly Alvis Vickers, in the design and development of training aids for the TITAN and TROJAN programmes for the UK MOD.

Challenge

The MOD requires an integrated training programme which its REME electrical and vehicle mechanic technicians can use to practice their electrical diagnostic skills in a safe and supportive training environment.

The TITAN and TROJAN vehicles are based on the Challenger 2 tank chassis and will be used by the Royal Engineers to provide added mobility to the main battle tank fleet. TITAN is an armoured bridge-layer, while TROJAN is a more generic obstacle-clearing vehicle.

How SELEX Systems Integration Helped

For each type of tank, SELEX SI is developing an Electronic Diagnostic Trainer (EDT) based upon its well-established emulation infrastructure technology. These emulations will be used to drive a conventional desktop EDT covering both variants and will also interface to full-size physical models of the interior of each vehicle (TITAN Physical EDT and TROJAN Physical EDT). The physical EDTs consist of the relevant equipment situated in representative locations within a wire-mesh framework.

SELEX Systems Integration has again collaborated with specialist model makers EDM to construct the physical models. The interface will be based upon an industrial Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) fed by a series of scanning units that will monitor around two thousand active pins within the various connectors that are modelled. Test-sets include a digital multi-meter for probing connector pins, a megohmeter for testing the quality of insulation on cables and a laptop PC for interfacing with systems such as engine management.

Value Delivered

The solution to be delivered includes a tablet PC with a wireless network connection which enables the instructors to move freely around the training area whilst still being able to monitor and interact with student activities. A 3D representation of the vehicles will be displayed on a Student Viewing Panel to enable the students to visualise events that are relevant to their diagnostic procedures, for example the correct response of the excavator arm on TROJAN.
 
In addition to the built-in synthetic faults that the instructor can activate during diagnostic training sessions, there is a facility whereby the instructors can create their own synthetic faults. This is performed using SELEX Systems Integration’s Fault Definition Editor (FDE), which allows instructors to create certain types of faults, such as broken switches, blown lamps and broken pins. This greatly enhances the flexibility of the system and provides a rigorous testing mechanism for the students.