NationStates Jolt Archive


Joint UCSNE/Kotterdam Development - TARGETS

Kotterdam
23-07-2004, 10:33
In a joint press release today, the Dominion of Kotterdam and the United City-States of New Empire have openly acknowledged the existance of Project: Orpheus, a joint effort by Engineering, Research, and Development teams from both nations to design and manufacture what is known as a Direct Brain Imaging Display - A system that would alllow pilots to view tactical information not on Heads-Up, or even Helmet-Mounted displays, but simply floating in the air before them. Based off of the ANTARES system already in use in New Empire, the new DBID, known as TARGETS, or Tactical Altered Reality - Generic Enhanced Targeting System, overlays information directly onto the sensory centers of the brain. Unlike ANTARES, however, TARGETS requires no feedback, and does not require the pilot to maintain a precarious mental state so as to keep his brain waves in synch with the receptors.

TARGETS works by using specially designed transmitters to project information directly onto the sensory centers of the brain, altering and even replacing the pilot's perceptions of the world around him. Initial tests of the TARGETS system began by projecting little green lights, and then simple geometric shapes onto a subject's field of view. Finally, the system was put to work by projecting both the visual and auditory components of the movie "Aliens" onto a test subject's consciousness. Incidentally, the initial test subjects were all individuals who had lost their sight to accidents or illnesses. At this time, the Dominion of Kotterdam is researching the possibility of using TARGETS to restore sight to such people.

In operation, TARGETS is the ultimate situational awareness aid. Pilots are provided with a range of auditory and tactile inputs as well as visual situation displays and even an olfactory cue for when the aircraft has caught fire. In its primary mode, TARGETS gives the pilot access to a full-sphere 720-degree view of his surroundings unobstructed by the airframe of his aircraft. He pans the view by turning his head in the direction he wants his viewpoint to go, and returning his eyes forward always gives him a boresight view along his line of flight. Miniature lasers in the pilot's helmet keep track of the position of his eyeballs, and determine what he is looking at, allowing him to designate targets simply by looking at them. This is intended to allow the use of weapons with high offboresight targeting angles, such as the SERAAM missile, or other similar weapons.

This projection automatically compensates for surrounding light levels, tags every target with the relevant information, and allows the pilot to verify his aircraft's status at a glance. It can give the pilot information including the IFF tags of nearby aircraft, their rate of closure, range, altitude, heading, and a rough estimate on type. As well, tactile and auditory stimuli notify the pilot of aircraft and other threats outside his current field of view - He actually feels them on his skin with the intensity of the sensation giving him a rough idea of the target's proximity. Obviously, such things cannot be exact, but they allow a pilot to have a general idea of the position of things he cannot see.

TARGETS draws information from all an aircraft's systems and sensors to compile both the primary view and a secondary, or God's Eye view of the pilot's surroundings. In this three-dimensional, third person view, the pilot views the battlefield from outside his aircraft, and is fully capable of directing large-scale engagements. Furthermore, in addition to incorporating the input from all aircraft sensors, TARGETS has, as an integral portion of its design, the Pallas Athena Tactical Sensor Countermeasure unit. Using a coldframe superconducting computer designed by the Dominion, the Pallas Athena has always had far more computing power than it ever needed. Rather than design a new control unit for TARGETS, it was learned that it could be run off of the coldframe used in Pallas Athena with power to spare. Only those aircraft equipped with Pallas Athena are capable of operating it.

In a final test, a force composed of modified A/F-21C Peregrine and F-109D Super Tempest fighters equipped with the new TARGETS displays engaged an equal force of identical configuration that relied entirely on conventional displays and controls in a simulated dogfight. In the end, the coordination and increased situational awareness provided by TARGETS allowed the pilots of the modified craft to engage and defeat their targets with only a single "loss" out of ten aircraft. As of that test, TARGETS was declared ready for full scale use in military hardware, approved both for aircraft use, and implementation in Armoured Fighting Vehicles for the armies of both the Dominion and New Empire. Strangely enough, Project: Orpheus remains active as a line item in the military budget of both nations.
New Empire
23-07-2004, 13:17
Tag... Looking good.
Scandavian States
23-07-2004, 15:17
[I take it this is future tech. If it isn't, I'm interested and wouldn't mind throwing some money your way to help fund this so long as I get to manufacture them too. I do have a question though, if this thing replaces the normal view of the pilot, how does the pilot keep equilibrium with his surroundings in such a way as to not crash the aircraft?]
Kotterdam
23-07-2004, 18:59
At most, this is Modern + 50 in tech level, and probably closer to Modern + 25. There are actually universities in the United States and across the world that are working on the problem of projecting information onto the brain's sensory centers, specifically those areas that deal with sight to try and come up with prosthetic eyes. Right now, if I remember properly, they can project simple patterns of light - Green dots.

In the primary viewing mode, the system projects what the pilot would be able to see if he could see through the airframe, so the effect is really more one of flying an invisible aircraft than anything else. As to the God's Eye view, we use tactile stimuli in all modes when he gets close to the ground. As well, the pilot can see his own aircraft in God's Eye view - It's like playing a video game, though God's Eye is not intended to be used while maneuvering. It's kind of a tactical plot to be used before engaging the enemy to get a feel for the situation.

Also, because of the way we have the interface set up, the view the pilot recieves is the view he would see if he were actually looking in the direction his head is pointing, so inner ear problems with the pilot going one way but his view going another aren't an issue. As to your offer to help fund production, TARGETS is almost complete. The version flown in the mock dogfight is essentially what will be flown in production-model aircraft. However, if you're interested in TARGETS, and if New Empire agrees, I have no problem with cutting you in on TARGETS in exchange for your nation funding final development of the system.
Scandavian States
23-07-2004, 19:09
I doubt funding will be a problem, although I would like a figure just to see the butcher's bill.
New Empire
23-07-2004, 23:08
I have no objection to it, and as Scandavian uses Pallas Athena as well, it does make things simpler.
Scandavian States
24-07-2004, 01:39
You know what's hilarious? I'm getting all of these kickass upgrades to my aircraft and now all of my aircraft are more advanced then what I bought them. Zoogie would crap his pants to know just what I've stuck into the aircraft I've purchased from him.
New Empire
24-07-2004, 01:41
That would be the idea of upgrading.
Scandavian States
24-07-2004, 01:46
That's true, but with things like the Pallas Athena and NPI radar they're practically new aircraft, which leads to really nasty surprises for the enemy. :twisted:
Kotterdam
24-07-2004, 12:51
Oh, definately... *EG* Scandavian States, I'm sending you a TG with the details of what would be required of you to get in on TARGETS.