Common Parachute Descent Trainer Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Topic No.: N161-007 Topic Title: Common Parachute Descent Trainer Proposal No.: N161-007-0891 Firm: Intelligent Automation, Inc. 15400 Calhoun Drive Suite 190 Rockville, Maryland 20855 Contact: Devendra Tolani Phone: (301) 294-4630 Web Site: http://www.i-a-i.com Abstract: The Navy needs a Parachute Descent Procedure trainer that enables air crew to practice and experience parachute descent procedures before they apply these procedures during a real mission. To address this need, IAI and our frequent collaborators from the Parks College Parachute Research Group, propose to investigate a Common Parachute Descent Trainer (CoPDeT). CoPDeT will provide a common infrastructure that provides an affordable immersive environment while enabling air crew from different aircraft to practice with the flight suits and ejections seats that they would use in the field within CoPDeT. In our Phase I work, we will investigate an initial proposed solution. The components investigated include (1) the weight-bearing superstructure, (2) connections to individual air crew descent equipment, (3) video presentation of the environment, (4) sensors that collect data about trainee movement, (5) the degree of immersiveness the environment provides, (6) and a computer integration capability that collects data, controls video presentation based in part on trainee activity, and will be used in later phases to assess performance and provide adaptive feedback. Benefits: The direct application of this research is to Navy Survivability Training Centers. This topic is geared toward fielding the complete product from this SBIR to that environment. We also see an application of this training system to other services, such as the Air Force, Army and Coast Guard. IAI has a standing relationship with Complete Parachute Solutions (CPS), and will market the CoPDeT system to CPS as a product by which to experience emergency parachute procedures. The greatest commercial application of this research will not be from the integrated product that the Navy can use for Parachute Descent Procedure training, but from components that are developed as part of CoPDeT. For example, we will use kinematic sensors to be integrated with training systems. This capability will be useful in many other commercial applications. Additionally, having more evidence of successful and efficient assessment in immersive environments will provide more clout when selling our services to other organizations interested in assessment within immersive environments and adaptive training. Return