United States Army Simulation and Training Technology Center
Encyclopedia
The United States Army Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC) provide the United States Department of Defense
and United States Department of Homeland Security
with state-of-the-art applied research to develop simulation technologies, build on current simulation knowledge, and understand system of systems environments where human, agent, and teams are involved.
(DIS) of a battlefield. DARPA ran the project from 1983–1989 and convinced the Army to use DIS technology.
The Army Science Board
studied the technology in 1991 and found a central management structure was necessary to ensure an integrated system. The Board’s recommendation resulted in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and United States Army Materiel Command
(AMC) sharing management responsibility for the new system. TRADOC designated its National Simulation Center (NSC) as its functional manager for controlling the requirements process. AMC created a new major subordinate command in 1992, the U.S. Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) (its current name is PEO STRI), headquartered in Orlando, FL, to serve as the technical manager for system execution. STRICOM consisted of two existing organizations, Project Manager Training Devices (PM TRADE) and Project Manager Instrumentation, Targets and Threat Simulators (PM ITTS), and two new organizations, Project Manager for Combined Arms Tactical Training (PM CATT) and Project Manager for Distributed Interactive Simulation (PM DIS).
In the 1990s, the technology base group of STRICOM formed the Technology Development Center (TDC) and moved to a separate building from the rest of STRICOM. One of TDC’s major efforts was the University Affiliated Research Center
(UARC) at the University of Southern California
. The UARC was later renamed the Institute for Creative Technologies
(ICT).
On October 1, 2002, TDC became provisionally part of RDECOM and was redesignated the STTC. The remaining elements of STRICOM became the Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation. In November 2003, STTC was renamed in honor of SFC Paul Ray Smith
, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. RDECOM took permanent control of STTC effective March 1, 2004 in accordance with AMC Permanent Orders 049-2.
's Report "Modeling and Simulation: Linking Entertainment and Defense" identified a technology opportunity for leveraging DoD and Entertainment research. On 10 August 1999, DDRE approved the University of Southern California
(USC
) Institute for Creative Technologies
(ICT
) as a DoD
University Affiliated Research Center
(UARC) as a collaboration between the Army, the University of Southern California
, and the entertainment industry.
STTC is the executive agent for the Army's partnership with the ICT
. As the executive agent, the STTC co-chairs the Technical Advisory Board with a representative from ASA(ALT)
to review and execute research topics. STTC plays a major role is identifying opportunities and assisting the ICT
with the integration and transition of technologies to the Army.
and Future Force concepts. Through the goal of fulfilling this objective we are able to create and produce a realistic engineering representation of systems and environments for Simulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and Training
(SMART
), a reusable environment where sub-system models can be integrated into an established architecture for analysis & technology tradeoffs, as well as a component repository to support “building block” implementations and the ability to generate code that will bind components automatically, thereby reducing the prospect of errors in coding and the time required to write tedious code. We are also working to create a Meta Model to ensure appropriate model interactions while providing RDECOM expertise, M&S tools and solutions to Lead Systems Integrators (LSI), Program Executive Offices (PEO), & Program Manager
s (PM).
The inaugural event began in 2009 with the awards being conducted during March 2010 GameTech conference in Orlando, Florida. The deadline for submittals is 15 November 2009. Entries are sorted into logical categories upon receipt. The public qualitative feedback period will begin in February 2010. Every individual and entity is invited to participate in the event for recognition and awards. The website for additional information is: www.fvwc.army.mil
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and United States Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
with state-of-the-art applied research to develop simulation technologies, build on current simulation knowledge, and understand system of systems environments where human, agent, and teams are involved.
History
The STTC traces its lineage to 1983 when the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) started work on a technology to network a large number of manned simulators, emulators and semi-automated force simulations to form a Distributed Interactive SimulationDistributed Interactive Simulation
Distributed Interactive Simulation is an IEEE standard for conducting real-time platform-level wargaming across multiple host computers and is used worldwide, especially by military organizations but also by other agencies such as those involved in space exploration and medicine.-History:The...
(DIS) of a battlefield. DARPA ran the project from 1983–1989 and convinced the Army to use DIS technology.
The Army Science Board
Army Science Board
The Army Science Board is a Federal Advisory Committee organized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. It is the Department of the Army senior scientific advisory body that was chartered in 1977 to replace the Army Scientific Advisory Panel...
studied the technology in 1991 and found a central management structure was necessary to ensure an integrated system. The Board’s recommendation resulted in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and United States Army Materiel Command
United States Army Materiel Command
The U.S. Army Materiel Command is the primary provider of materiel to the United States Army.The Command's mission includes the research & development of weapons systems as well as maintenance and parts distribution....
(AMC) sharing management responsibility for the new system. TRADOC designated its National Simulation Center (NSC) as its functional manager for controlling the requirements process. AMC created a new major subordinate command in 1992, the U.S. Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) (its current name is PEO STRI), headquartered in Orlando, FL, to serve as the technical manager for system execution. STRICOM consisted of two existing organizations, Project Manager Training Devices (PM TRADE) and Project Manager Instrumentation, Targets and Threat Simulators (PM ITTS), and two new organizations, Project Manager for Combined Arms Tactical Training (PM CATT) and Project Manager for Distributed Interactive Simulation (PM DIS).
In the 1990s, the technology base group of STRICOM formed the Technology Development Center (TDC) and moved to a separate building from the rest of STRICOM. One of TDC’s major efforts was the University Affiliated Research Center
University Affiliated Research Center
A University Affiliated Research Center is a strategic United States Department of Defense research center associated with a university. UARCs were formally established in May 1996 by the Director of Defense Research and Engineering , Office of the Secretary of Defense, with the UARC Management...
(UARC) at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. The UARC was later renamed the Institute for Creative Technologies
Institute for Creative Technologies
The Institute for Creative Technologies is a research institute of the University of Southern California located in Playa Vista, California. ICT was established in 1999 with funding from the US Army...
(ICT).
On October 1, 2002, TDC became provisionally part of RDECOM and was redesignated the STTC. The remaining elements of STRICOM became the Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation. In November 2003, STTC was renamed in honor of SFC Paul Ray Smith
Paul Ray Smith
Paul Ray Smith was a United States Army Sergeant First Class who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom...
, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. RDECOM took permanent control of STTC effective March 1, 2004 in accordance with AMC Permanent Orders 049-2.
Mission
STTC's stated mission is to:- Enhance Warfighter readiness through research and development of applied simulation technologies for learning, training, testing and mission rehearsal.
Vision
STTC's stated vision is to:- Provide the United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and United States Department of Homeland SecurityUnited States Department of Homeland SecurityThe United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
with state-of-the-art applied research to develop simulation technologies, build on current simulation knowledge, and understand system of systems environments where human, agent, and teams are involved.
Goals
STTC's stated goals in support of its mission are:- Focus on key competencies
- Real-Time human-in-the-LoopHuman-in-the-LoopHuman-in-the-Loop is defined as a model that requires human interaction. HITL is associated with Virtual Modeling & Simulation in the Live, Virtual, and Constructive taxonomy. HITL models may conform to Human factors requirements as is the case of a Mockup...
simulation technologies - Behavioral representation
- Shared simulation environments
- Real-Time human-in-the-Loop
- Establish partnering through the U.S. Federal Government to optimize value
- Support the U.S. Army Training Transformation (T2) initiative
- Maintain a state-of-the-art facility
- Promote learning
- Optimize the financial resources
- Develop and maintain processes to support the most efficient and effective use of resources
ICT
In 1997 the National Research CouncilUnited States National Research Council
The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
's Report "Modeling and Simulation: Linking Entertainment and Defense" identified a technology opportunity for leveraging DoD and Entertainment research. On 10 August 1999, DDRE approved the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
) Institute for Creative Technologies
Institute for Creative Technologies
The Institute for Creative Technologies is a research institute of the University of Southern California located in Playa Vista, California. ICT was established in 1999 with funding from the US Army...
(ICT
Institute for Creative Technologies
The Institute for Creative Technologies is a research institute of the University of Southern California located in Playa Vista, California. ICT was established in 1999 with funding from the US Army...
) as a DoD
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
University Affiliated Research Center
University Affiliated Research Center
A University Affiliated Research Center is a strategic United States Department of Defense research center associated with a university. UARCs were formally established in May 1996 by the Director of Defense Research and Engineering , Office of the Secretary of Defense, with the UARC Management...
(UARC) as a collaboration between the Army, the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, and the entertainment industry.
STTC is the executive agent for the Army's partnership with the ICT
Institute for Creative Technologies
The Institute for Creative Technologies is a research institute of the University of Southern California located in Playa Vista, California. ICT was established in 1999 with funding from the US Army...
. As the executive agent, the STTC co-chairs the Technical Advisory Board with a representative from ASA(ALT)
United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
The Office of the United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology is known as OASA...
to review and execute research topics. STTC plays a major role is identifying opportunities and assisting the ICT
Institute for Creative Technologies
The Institute for Creative Technologies is a research institute of the University of Southern California located in Playa Vista, California. ICT was established in 1999 with funding from the US Army...
with the integration and transition of technologies to the Army.
MATREX
The purpose of the Modeling Architecture for Technology, Research, and EXperimentation (MATREX) Science and Technology Objective (STO) is to design a persistent, distributed simulation capability leveraging Government & industry assets with the ultimate objective of providing a persistent, distributed simulation environment for evaluation of Future Combat SystemsFuture Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unprecedented fast and flexible battlefield network...
and Future Force concepts. Through the goal of fulfilling this objective we are able to create and produce a realistic engineering representation of systems and environments for Simulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and Training
Simulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and Training
Simulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and Training is a program that was discontinued by the United States Army in 2005.All public access to any SMART-related documents were removed at that time but have started to resurface....
(SMART
Simulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and Training
Simulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and Training is a program that was discontinued by the United States Army in 2005.All public access to any SMART-related documents were removed at that time but have started to resurface....
), a reusable environment where sub-system models can be integrated into an established architecture for analysis & technology tradeoffs, as well as a component repository to support “building block” implementations and the ability to generate code that will bind components automatically, thereby reducing the prospect of errors in coding and the time required to write tedious code. We are also working to create a Meta Model to ensure appropriate model interactions while providing RDECOM expertise, M&S tools and solutions to Lead Systems Integrators (LSI), Program Executive Offices (PEO), & Program Manager
Program Manager
Program Manager is the shell of Windows 3.x and Windows NT 3.x operating systems. This shell exposed a task-oriented graphical user interface , consisting of icons arranged into program groups. It replaced MS-DOS Executive, a file manager, as the default Windows shell.The program derives from the...
s (PM).
Current events
The Federal Virtual World Challenge is a competition led by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Simulation and Training Technology Center. The event is conducted in order to reach a global development community who will create innovative and interactive training and analysis solutions in virtual worlds. The criterion is intentionally unbounded to allow for creative solutions. This challenge is intended to:- Provide an opportunity to explore possibilities for using virtual worlds that have not, and may not have ever been considered by the Government
- Gain access to training concepts to assist in developing training requirements
- Expand the training and analysis areas that can be supported by this domain
- Explore the global collaboration concept as a procurement strategy for future training and analysis needs
- Build public and inter-Government organization awareness on work being conducted in virtual worlds
The inaugural event began in 2009 with the awards being conducted during March 2010 GameTech conference in Orlando, Florida. The deadline for submittals is 15 November 2009. Entries are sorted into logical categories upon receipt. The public qualitative feedback period will begin in February 2010. Every individual and entity is invited to participate in the event for recognition and awards. The website for additional information is: www.fvwc.army.mil
See also
- Institute for Creative TechnologiesInstitute for Creative TechnologiesThe Institute for Creative Technologies is a research institute of the University of Southern California located in Playa Vista, California. ICT was established in 1999 with funding from the US Army...
- Paul Ray SmithPaul Ray SmithPaul Ray Smith was a United States Army Sergeant First Class who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom...
- RDECOM
- Simulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and TrainingSimulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and TrainingSimulation & Modeling for Acquisition, Requirements, and Training is a program that was discontinued by the United States Army in 2005.All public access to any SMART-related documents were removed at that time but have started to resurface....