Interface Unit Enabling Utilization of Aircraft Tactical Tape in Aircrew Simulators

The objective of this Phase I effort is to investigate and identify a cost effective approach towards developing an interface unit to facilitate the transfer of new or updated operational Flight Program (OFP) software from the aircraft to related aircrew simulators. In the current training environment, maintaining on-board computer functional concurrency with the parent aircraft is a costly and time consuming effort. During Phase I, DUAL inspects a number of trainers in the Navy inventory with varying configurations and requirements, interviews government and industry personnel who are directly involved in the transfer, or porting, of the OPP, establishes a set of functional requirements to be satisfied, evaluates existing and evolving technologies, and produces a report on the feasibility of fielding a cost-effective interface unit. Phase II follows with the prototyping of the interface unit for a single aircraft/trainer. A Phase III effort seeks to introduce the interface unit Into the military training environment beyond aviation applications such as surface, subsurface and land warfare. Subsequently, investigation into the commercial airline/air freight and NASA training environments can expand its area of application.