A Fidelity Analysis Tool for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Training Systems

The F-35 presents many training challenges for both aircrew and maintenance due to its new and unique systems as well as multiple configurations. The F-35 Integrated Product Team is looking for innovative procedures and software tools that will aid in the Instructional System Design (ISD) of training devices to include the selection of the most appropriate levels of fidelity and the process by which the specifications will be developed. Based on its extensive experience VSAT is proposing an automated Fidelity Identification and Specification Development Process that begins with outputs of the ISD Process and descriptions of aircraft subsystems. The importance of the subsystems to each task along with the subsystem fidelity required for that task will be identified. Initially this will be based on interviews with aircraft operators and simulation experts, but full automation will be investigated in Phase I. This data will result in a preliminary fidelity baseline that prioritizes detailed requirements development. Detailed specification and verification requirements will be derived from the baseline through an automated process assisted by an interactive relational database. The process determines the optimum requirements based on cost, training objectives as well as the overall F-35 configuration.