Accurate three-dimensional pre- and post-strike target visualization tools, such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA) Weapons Analysis Lethality Tool Set (WALTS), provide a valuable addition to mission planning, the battle damage assessment (BDA) process, training, simulations and mission rehearsal. When struck, the 3D target models are dynamically repolygonized in near-real time using physics codes describing the weapon-target interactions. These models are then rendered for user inspection on the WALTS viewer or are passed to other rendering systems using the HLA methodology for further environment interaction.
Live Range data, when treated as a HLA federate, drives WALTS and, in return, WALTS provides for an enhanced after-action review and restrike/no-restrike training capability. Additionally, simulated weapons scoring can be used to quantify student performance during training and mission rehearsal. Finally, the HLA concepts allow for range objects and interactions, including the targets, to be visible to other federates. These federates can be other simulations or they can be display systems with varying levels of fidelity.
Another place for rendering these damaged targets is in the "out the window" scene of a virtual simulator. Virtual simulators are no longer limited to using pre-defined "damage states," i.e. 25%, 50% damaged, etc. Realistic damage visualization not only allows for an immediate and accurate feedback, but it also allows instructors to make restrike/no-restrike decisions on the fly while students are still immersed in their simulation. Mission rehearsal is one particular instance where this type of decision making becomes critical as the physics based weapon effects calculations guide us towards creating a more realistic and accurate synthetic environment.
HLA provides a good exchange mechanism for this type of integrated simulation. The WALTS federate can participate with a single virtual simulator federate, Live Range federate or as a part of a greater federation with several different types of federates: live, virtual and/or constructive.