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2020-01-07

CAE TRAX Academy Launched

At the recently concluded Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), a military training and simulation event, CAE introduced the CAE TRAX Academy, an integrated and advanced training continuum designed to deliver faster and efficient throughput for military student pilot training.

The company also launched the CAE Sprint Virtual Reality (VR) trainer, an integral part of the CAE TRAX Academy, to enable self-paced learning in an immersive, high-fidelity virtual environment. The VR trainer comes complete with virtual reality headset, haptics, physical flight controls, CAE Medallion image generator, and CAE virtual coach, in addition to leveraging CAE Rise (Real-time insights and standardised evaluations) for objective grading and assessment.

During I/ITSEC, CAE conducted demonstrations of the CAE TRAX Academy, including digital learning tools, CAE Sprint VR trainers, and a T-6C flight-training device. The demonstrations showed the progression of the training continuum – Learn, Practice, Perform – with CAE Rise integrated throughout to provide the data analytics and predictive analysis necessary for continuous improvement and closed-loop training.

Initial Phase

The CAE TRAX Academy is a student-centric, self-paced training system leveraging multiple interconnected elements and tools as part of a mobile-assisted, closed-loop adaptive learning system. This comprehensive and integrated training system is designed to optimise the student pilot’s journey from undergraduate pilot training to earning wings.

“Global militaries are faced with a current and growing challenge to produce pilots faster and efficiently without impacting the quality standards that military pilot training has become known for,” said Joe Armstrong, Vice President, Global Business Operations – Product & Solutions, CAE. “Today’s digital technologies such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and data analytics are enabling a new approach to pilot training that is more self-paced and tailored to student learning. As a leading training systems integrator, the CAE TRAX Academy is CAE’s answer to redefining how military student pilots learn, practice and then perform on the journey to becoming a pilot.”

First, student pilots use digital tools such as a mobile app and virtual reality-enabled courseware to learn and understand required training tasks and procedures. The curriculum delivers academic understanding of a training task or procedure, organised via the CAE TRAX Academy mobile app. The student can monitor their status against learning goals to review activity and results. They can access courseware, manage their schedule, see comparative progression, book resources and more.

Furthermore, Computer-based-training (CBT) modules provide an introduction to the subject matter in detail. Narrated videos model the ideal actions and reactions as the student progresses through the procedure. Once the basic concepts are mastered, the student receives further instruction via high-fidelity VR-enhanced content, which immerses the student into the scenario and builds situational familiarisation to strengthen transferrable skills.

Practice Makes Perfect

The next phase of the CAE TRAX Academy sees students Practice in the CAE Sprint VR trainer with physical controls, a virtual coach and CAE Rise performance assessment. The student starts this phase familiar with the cockpit environment and understands the sequence of events.

Next, students practice what was learned in the CAE Sprint VR trainer utilising the CAE Medallion image generator, which delivers a realistic virtual environment than traditional VR trainers. Visual immersion is enabled via a VR headset with high-resolution out-the-window visuals and 20/20 visual acuity to read the instrument panel.

Flight controls – joystick, throttle, and rudder pedals, combined with physical cues boosted by haptics and seat vibration – integrate to create a highly realistic immersive virtual environment in a high-fidelity, affordable yet sophisticated VR flight training device with a small footprint. A virtual coach providing immediate, actionable intervention, and CAE Rise performance assessment that measures achievement, supports student progress.

Demonstrating Proficiency

The final stage of the student’s journey is to show their ability to synthesise what they have learned and practiced in the two previous stages. Accompanied by an instructor, the student would perform the procedure during a validation with instructor on a high-fidelity flight training device or simulator. Instructor evaluation is supported by CAE Rise to validate the success of the student’s progress and readiness. CAE Rise is also used to aggregate individual student results into data for the entire class, allowing instructors and administrators to monitor trends, identify gaps and leverage opportunities for continuous improvement.

The CAE Sprint VR trainer enables student pilots to practice training tasks, procedures and manoeuvres in an affordable, immersive virtual environment. CAE has enhanced realism and fidelity in the CAE Sprint VR trainer compared to other VR trainers by providing full cockpit acuity and interaction, incorporating haptic feedback and using the CAE Medallion image generator to render database content. In addition, the CAE Sprint VR trainer features the CAE virtual coach to deliver audio intervention and correction, and CAE Rise to objectively measure student progress and proficiency.

“Last year we launched the Project Digital Intelligence research and development programme to innovate in developing next-generation training solutions,” said Philippe Perey, Head of Technology – Defense & Security, CAE. “The CAE TRAX Academy and CAE Sprint Virtual Reality trainer are examples of our digital transformation applied to pilot training and addressing the very real challenges many militaries are facing to increase pilot throughput efficiently and cost-effectively.”

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