Digital Projection Hits Target with Simulator Dome Revamp

The Bundeswehr Technical Center for Information Technology and Electronics (WTD 81) recently upgraded the complex visual setup at its target simulation dome (ZSD) with the help of a collaborative team with members from project: syntropy, who was contracted to design, install and commission the new projection system consisting of 41 Digital Projection HIGHlite Laser WUXGA 3D projectors, and domeprojection.com.

The overhaul was undertaken on behalf of e.sigmaSystems GmbH - a specialised supplier of integrated training solutions forinternational armed forces, security agencies and industrial clients.

The dome at WTD 81, which is situated in Greding(Bavaria, Germany), is used by the Bundeswehr (the unified armed forces ofGermany) to test the accuracy of weapon systems and individual components, fromtanks to missiles, in realistic 3D simulations of battlefield scenarios, bothin the optical and infrared spectral range.

During the project, the entire infrared projectionsystem of the target simulation dome was renewed.

“We were originally asked to help with the dome’scolour calibration using our tools,” said domeprojection.com’s Christian Steinmann. “We tried a calibration with the existing projectors,but it proved to be an impossible task. The projectors were dated, they didn’thave enough brightness and there was no edge-blending capability, as thecontent was simply tiled.”

Despite results improving somewhat afterdomeprojection.com’s initial calibrations, the WTD 81 decided a completerefurbishment was the best course of action.

The solution was 41 Digital Projection HIGHlite Laser WUXGA 3D projectors integrated by project: syntropy. The main challenge inthe design was the projector placement which needed to guarantee that eachpixel to be seen from the working volume defined by a 2m radius sphere in thecenter of the dome is not more than 20° of the ideal reflection rays. This isdue to the ultra high gain of the screen. To make it even more complicated thearea to put projectors was over all very limited and the requested low noiselevels required special housing of the projector not obstructing the field ofview but allowing sufficient cooling for the projectors.

The domeprojection.com software was key during theinstallation, with a great deal of calculations having to be made beforeanything could be put in place.

The proprietary software used by e.sigma during thesimulations was also revamped during the upgrade. By closely collaborating withdomeprojection.com, e.sigma developed an interface to import the warping &blending directly into the software itself.