AH/MH-6 Little Bird Light Assault/Attack Reconfigurable (LASAR) Combat Mission Simulator (CMS)

Case study

In 1996, Barco developed a projection system for CAE called Merlin used for simulating submarine hunting. Merlin was a split-pack, raster/calligraphic projection system with custom-made projection head units. Because of the similarities between Merlin and the AH/MH Little Bird Light Assault/Attack Reconfigurable (LASAR) Combat Mission Simulator (CMS), CAE chose Barco. CAE knew that Barco had the capability and resources to develop a custom solution for their application. As such, LASAR was modeled after Merlin.

The LASAR system was based on Barco’s high-fidelity, high-performance Genesis series projectors. The Genesis family is a single-pack, raster/calligraphic projection platform. Since Barco did not have a split-pack version of this system, the challenge was to develop a one-of-a-kind, multi-headed system with the same full-color, picture-quality resolution and high scan rates as the Genesis technology.

Barco Simulation provided an eight-channel system consisting of full-color, magnetic focus, split-pack raster/calligraphic projectors that incorporate CRTs. This projection system operates at field rates from 20 Hz to 60 Hz and line rates from 15 kHz to 40 kHz. Each split-pack projector consists of a Control Unit (CU), Projector Head Unit (PHU), High Voltage Power Supply (HVPS), computer, and Remote Alignment Control Unit (RACU). Each CU is designed to control three separate PHUs. A PHU houses a specific red, green, or blue CRT assembly. Barco also developed special software to control and align the system, as well as provided extended cabling and assorted mechanical equipment to complete the installation. Since Barco designed and developed the projector, the company had the ability to adapt, modify, and redesign the display system to meet CAE’s unique and demanding simulation applications.

The technology Barco supplied to CAE was unique to the LASAR simulator. It was custom made to meet CAE’s unique simulation application. The LASAR system is a large-scale projection system that projects eight distinct very large images onto the simulator’s dome surface. Using proprietary and sophisticated electronics, the images were seamlessly edge blended on all four sides. Barco also increased the geometry distortion capability of the Genesis family to meet the unique demands of this simulator. This posed several imaging challenges, such as geometry correction and alignment. Barco technicians worked round-the-clock to make this system a world-class simulator.