Montreal-based CAE has unveiled its next generation CAE Medallion-6000 image generator.

Launched at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), the visualization system is based on commercial-off-the-shelf graphics processors and is intended “to help provide realistic, high-performance synthetic environments specifically for the defense and security market.”

New features and capabilities include:

  • Increased sustained polygon capacity of more than 400,000 polygons for extremely detailed synthetic environments and realistic night scenes;
  • Higher resolution imagery and textures for enhanced visual fidelity;
  • Ability to modify a Common Database (CDB) at run-time;
  • Reflective model for rainy conditions and fog, including multiple 3D clouds for accurate simulation of weather and the resulting impact on training;
  • Realistic run-time lighting and shadowing effects based on various light sources;
  • Smooth dynamic shadows correlated to the sun or moon position on the ground, buildings, moving vehicles, and other entities in the synthetic environment;
  • Improved special effects such as explosions and smoke for a realistic, dynamic synthetic environment ideal for combat mission training and rehearsal.

The image generator supports the Common Database, an open, public database specification designed to make the creation, modification and correlation of run-time databases much faster to support training and mission rehearsal. It is also designed to be part of CAE’s Dynamic Synthetic Environment (DSE), a comprehensive integrated solution that creates a virtual synthetic environment to more accurately and realistically simulate the real world. The DSE takes advantage of CDB capabilities to dynamically change the terrain to introduce or modify features such as craters, weapons effects, and localized damage on any three-dimensional content or vegetation.

In a statement the company said it will be applying the Medallion-6000 image generator to recent program awards such as the Eurofighter full-mission simulators and cockpit trainers visual system update for the German Air Force; the UH-72A Lakota flight simulation training devices for the U.S. Army; the SH-2G(I) helicopter full-mission flight simulator for the New Zealand Defence Force; and the CP-140 full-flight simulator for the Royal Canadian Air Force.