Multiplayer Serious Game for Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonar Operator Training

The Surface Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Synthetic Trainer (SAST) that is installed as part of the AN/SQQ-89 Sonar System is not used often enough to be considered a useful training tool. The training capability requires putting the entire sonar system into a training mode, thereby causing SAST to be rarely used and impairing ASW sonar operator proficiency.   To successfully overcome this challenge, Sonalysts has demonstrated the feasibility of a multi-player serious game for ASW team training with PING—a fast-paced, engaging, multi-player “serious game” designed to continuously improve ASW sonar operator proficiency and skills. PING uses browser-based game play compatible with the existing tactical system training architecture, and features progressive levels of difficulty, support for individual and team-based training, user customizable training, AI adversaries, and tactical challenges tied to ASW Learning Objectives (LOs) and operational proficiencies. PING will be integrated into the Advanced Capability Build (ACB) for the AN/SQQ-89 Sonar System and launched from the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) for assessing progress and customizing training.   The PING SBIR N192-094 effort will develop an engaging multiplayer ASW serious game that improves team proficiency in a wide range of difficult tasks, including environmental assessment, display manipulation, proper use of automation, signal recognition, and solution development for weapon deployment or evasive maneuvers. Available both at sea and in-port at all times, this game will make efficient use of available training time, as it delivers effective training through traceability and proficiency assessment using team and role-based learning objectives, user-created scenarios, artificial intelligence (AI) for platforms and ASW team participants, full-featured undersea acoustic environment and sonar detection modeling, a dynamic hinting/immediate feedback practice mode, and means to view and summarize past training sessions including after action review (AAR) debrief.