Charles River Analytics, DiSTI Develop EAGLE Virtual Trainer

Charles River Analytics Inc. is working alongside The DiSTI Corporation to develop its Evaluation-Driven Active Guide for Learning Procedural Events (EAGLE). EAGLE is Charles River Analytics' just-in-time intelligent virtual trainer that helps US Air Force satellite communications students learn and remember complex procedures on the Hawkeye III Lite. The Hawkeye III is a standalone, ground-based satellite communications system that provides network support for command and control backup and long-term mission relay.

Mainstream Air Force training methods, such as classroom andlive exercises, require costly expert instruction and expensive equipment, sostudents rarely experience the full range of possible satellite systemfailures. Once deployed, trained personnel lack tools for refresher training,increasing the chance for error. These errors can jeopardize missions,compromise equipment, or worse yet, put personnel in harm’s way.

The 338th Training Squadron is responsible for Hawkeye IIILite Radar satellite communications students; their goal is to produce studentswho are well-prepared to deploy the Hawkeye equipment in a variety of missionspaces and conditions.

“Satellite communications students have little access toactual equipment,” said Dr. Krysta Chauncey, Scientist at Charles RiverAnalytics and Project Lead on the EAGLE effort. “Our intelligent virtualtrainer, EAGLE, solves this problem; it helps students get hands-on experiencewith the same equipment they’ll be using in the field.”

EAGLE guides efficient, low-cost training and can becustomized to operational needs. EAGLE is available whenever and wherever astudent needs it, with just-in-time-training that allows immersive rehearsal ofunfamiliar and complex procedures.

“In EAGLE, we’ve tailored the latest intelligent tutoringsystem and virtual training techniques to training for satellite comms,”continued Dr. Chauncey. “EAGLE automates training of key skills, such astroubleshooting, both in the classroom and remote operational settings.”

To support EAGLE, Charles River Analytics partnered withDiSTI to leverage the VE Studio maintenance training development platform tocreate the virtual environment for the Hawkeye III Lite Radar. VE Studioprovides a high-fidelity, game-based graphical training engine, based on Unity,supporting the full range of maintenance applications. Charles River Analyticswill leverage DiSTI’s virtual maintenance trainer expertise and integrate theirvirtual environment into the EAGLE system.

EAGLE will adapt MAGPIE, Charles River Analytics’  TRL-9 adaptive virtual maintenance trainer,into a just-in-time training tool for satellite communications students anddeployed personnel. MAGPIE—also built on DiSTI’s VE Studio—provides a powerfulsoftware baseline for EAGLE.