Cabin solution: Russia has developed an armored vehicle simulator for fighters and gamers

Russian scientists from the Volga State Technical University have developed an interactive game simulator of a new generation of armored vehicles. This is a special cabin with tactile feedback that simulates combat conditions and can be used both for training combat vehicle crews and for competitive activities. At the moment, a simplified prototype has been created with the possibility of testing for one or two people. Experts believe that the novelty will be in demand from the military, historical museums and exhibitions of military equipment. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

What is a simulator cabin for?

A student startup at Volga State Technical University has created an interactive armored vehicle simulator designed for both gamers and students working with combat vehicles. It is a modular platform designed for four participants. The cabin stands on a movable platform and transmits tactile feedback. The project is being implemented with the support of the National Technology Initiative Platform, the NTI press service told Izvestia.

A minimally viable product for two people has already been created, and it participates in the federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship" (FP Technologies).

— The team selected all electronics and mechanical components from technological components available on the Russian market. Such a chain eliminates sanctions risks and guarantees a day-to-day service. As the levels of technological readiness of the project develop, we plan to implement a four—seat interactive attraction with elements of virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies," said Vladimir Efimov, the founder of the project.

The startup team intends to scale the project across regions through a franchise, as well as create historical and educational game scenarios. An application for state registration of a utility model has already been submitted to Rospatent (that is, an intangible object of intellectual rights related to the device).

— This simulator is, in fact, the only one in its price segment that offers a full-fledged physical cabin with realistic levers, pedals, vibration, directional sound, smoke and a movable platform. The cabin is modular, which simplifies maintenance and software updates via OTA firmware. In addition, when implementing the solution, the owner will not have to depend on foreign engineers," added Vladimir Yefimov.

Currently, the level of technological readiness of the project corresponds to the TRL-5 indicator, that is, a simplified prototype has been developed, and the technological components have passed laboratory testing.

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What benefits will the development bring to the country?

The development is unlikely to interest "average gamers," but it may be in demand by military and museums, says Timofey Voronin, deputy director of the NTI Competence Center for Big Data at Moscow State University. According to him, museum sites, especially those related to history and military equipment, will be able to attract more visitors, and representatives of law enforcement agencies will receive a new tool for training future tankers. He also noted that if there is an appropriate request from law enforcement agencies, the platform can be scaled and adapted to compact specialized models.

— Among the entertainment analogues, there are VR attractions like VR Battle Tank and the multiplayer game Tanks VR, which uses mobile platforms, but the level of tactile feedback is limited. Among the professional military solutions, simulators from Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems stand out — comprehensive systems for training armored vehicle crews with highly realistic scenarios. In Russia, the equivalent is the T-80 tank simulator, which is focused exclusively on military training and requires specialized equipment," said Olga Kharina, Dean of the Faculty of Technological Entrepreneurship at Synergy University.

According to her, the development already demonstrates a high level of engineering training for students and meets the NTI's goal of supporting innovation. The project has growth potential, but for successful development it is important to take into account the strengths and weaknesses of competitors, including foreign ones.

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Anton Averyanov, CEO of the ST IT Group of companies, TechNet NTI market expert, believes that the created software and hardware complex can really be useful for training. However, according to him, unlike pilots who necessarily need simulators because of the risks to life and equipment, training in armored vehicles traditionally takes place in conditions where such risks are minimal.

— Perhaps it is more effective to train cadets immediately on real technology, if there is one. But such a platform will definitely be useful for those units where there are no suitable armored vehicles," he concluded.

The success of the project depends on the financial analysis, reliability and quality of the content itself.

The project looks mature enough for student development: if the team manages to provide stable service, regular updates, a convenient franchise model and effective management, it has a chance to develop into a sustainable commercial product, said Mikhail Pimenov, Director of Development of the gaming industry at Synergy University. The expert also noted that many existing analogues are designed for only 1-2 seats and do not focus on using the domestic element base. In this context, a four—seat cabin with a cooperative mode and a focus on technological independence can give the project a niche advantage, provided that the product is brought to a stable production version.

According to Evgeny Kalinin, the founder of the Tracker School, developers initially chose a narrow niche — and it is in such areas that those who create the most understandable and accurately relevant product for the market most often win. According to him, this simulator fits exactly into the needs of his professional niche, which can give him a competitive advantage.