Saab begins construction on first Barco mini-dome system in Sweden
Linköping, Sweden – Barco has begun to construct the first SEER mini-dome system for the Swedish Air Force under contract with SAAB. And the second mini-dome for Sweden has entered the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) phase at the Barco facility in Belgium.
“The installation of the first Barco SEER mini-dome in Sweden is the fruition of an on-going collaborative effort with our partners at SAAB,” says Wim Maes, Director of Sales EMEA for Barco’s Simulation division. “We are confident the SEER will enhance aircraft training for the Swedish Air Force, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with SAAB.”
The FAT enables SAAB to evaluate a representative, functioning system at the Barco facility in Kuurne. The Barco SEER mini-dome systems are assembled to verify all components, both standard and specialized, work together as specified. This testing enables Barco to ensure a smooth implementation at SAAB’s customer sites, increasing efficiency and reducing the impact of non-scheduled corrections.
Saab is using the Barco SEER mini-dome systems for their new tactical support and training system for Gripen C/D – the world’s first all-digital combat aircraft – called PETRA (Planning, Evaluation, Training, Rehearsal and Analysis). The PETRA concept is being deployed to Air Force simulation training centers in Sweden to enhance military flight training effectiveness. The Gripen aircraft is designed to meet the demands of all current and future threats, while at the same time meeting strict peacetime requirements for flight safety, reliability, training efficiency, and low-operating costs.
Developed for immersive military training applications, the Barco SEER mini-dome comprises of a custom 240-degree spherical dome structure, eight-channel projection system, sophisticated alignment and control tools (Barco’s xRACU and LDAT™, Laser Diode Array Tool), dedicated peripheral devices, and Saab’s image generation software. The system cockpit for the Swedish Air Force will also incorporate new-generation, all-digital, full-color HUD (Head-Up Display) technology for added combat aircraft simulation capability to increase flight training effectiveness. The HUD is powered by Barco’s new SIM 5plus projection solution.
The Barco SEER mini-dome allows the simulator to create an environment where the resolution increases from two to less than one meter over large areas. The small diameter of the SEER mini-dome and Barco’s high-resolution SIM 6 Ultra IIs are important because they enable simulation of flight at an altitude of 100 feet, an essential capability of the Gripen. A compact and flexible solution, the SEER mini-dome maximizes training space. It has a small footprint and low height profile. The SEER’s small diameter allows pilots to feel close to their environment, and the SIM 6s extreme WARPTM capabilities are ideal for such small domes.
The Barco SEER mini-domes will be used for basic military tactical training, primarily in conflict scenarios. As part of the Saab contract, upcoming installations include Hungary and Czech Republic Air Force simulation training centers. Barco now has more than 15 mini-dome orders and commitments as part of its long list of system installation references worldwide, and they have numerous potential customers who have expressed interest in the Barco SEER mini-dome technology.
The Barco SEER mini-dome is a complete display solution with a powerful set of optimized system features to maximize performance, deliver reliable long-term operation, and reduce cost of ownership to 50%. The Barco SEER mini-dome solution provides constant eye relief over the entire spherical surface and optimizes out-of-window scenes. The spherical shape maintains a constant distance between the pilot’s eye and the projected simulation preventing the pilot’s eyes from having to adjust to geometric changes in the surface area. It also creates a seamless projection surface and offers greater continuous visual range. Pilots experience full-immersive training at a level not realized with current technology. The projection technology is optimized for matching color, brightness, gray scale, and other visual parameters. Resolution is uniform across all channels of the dome, which is important for air-to-air combat training.
Central to the Barco SEER mini-dome solution is the dome screen. The screen is engineered to optimize screen gain and contrast. To complement the visualization solution, the projection system effectively performs internal, optical multi-sided edge blending and includes advanced, integrated bi-cubic geometry distortion for seamless, high-quality imaging on the dome surface.
SEER, xRACU, and LDAT are trademarks of Barco.
