Environment processor technology for military applications

Military training requirements are changing. Operations are evolving from large-theater scenarios to smaller, surgical missions, and missions often change overnight. In addition, many of today's missions involve flight over very long distances. All of these changes and the need to "train the way you fight" put new demands on simulator visual systems-they must be more flexible, responsive, and reliable than ever before.

Rockwell Collins' EPX™ technology (Environment Processor technology with military extensions) offers a visual simulation solution that meets the rapidly changing demands of military training. With a unique, layered architecture, software-centric EPX technology gives military customers the features they need:

• Rapid Database Creation and Update
  • EPX enables separate database components to be created, edited, and stored independently and combined during real-time rendering, eliminating the need to pre-compile or build prior to flight.
• IG Hardware Scalability
  • EPX is software-centric and hardware platform independent, allowing customers to scale their database according to training needs.
• Whole-Earth Model
  • Every EPX system ships with a trainable 3D whole-earth terrain model including three high-resolution insets. 
  • The whole earth model is textured with photo-derived, geotypical theme-based imagery, including cultural lighting and geographical representations of coastlines, cities, farmland, mountain ranges, urban areas, and tundra.
  • Additional high-resolution imagery and terrain insets are available for specialized missions.
• ESIG / CIGI Host Compatibility
  • EPX host compatibility allows for rapid integration with any ESIG, SPX, or CIGI-compliant simulator host.
• Legacy Database Compatibility
  • Simple-to-use database conversion paths for SPX and SEDRIS databases allow easy transfer to EPX systems.
• Enhanced Reliability
  • Efficient, layered architecture minimizes run-time interdependencies.
• Common Sensor Architecture
  • EPX products support a comprehensive suite of sensor simulation options, with consistent functionality across the hardware platforms.
  • Sensor effects include radar, infrared, FLIR, and NVG.