RAPTOR

The goal of the Rapid Airfield Post-attack Training for Operational Restoration (RAPTOR) project was to simulate the post-attack process with an emphasis on training airmen on how to lay out the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights at a damaged runway.  

Outcomes and Additional Information

• The scholars were challenged to create a VR training program that simulates the restoration process of a damage runway, including setting the PAPI lights, repairing areas of the runway that were destroyed, and learning about minimum airfield operating strip parameters. 

• Post-attack operations and training are costly but crucial for enabling safe aircraft operations, and are often complicated be equipment being unavailable as well as the logistics of many moving components and resources related to surveying, repairs, and setting PAPI lights. 

• To assist the user, the sim has an active grading system that displays a message indicating how far away they are from correctly placing the PAPI if they were to place it incorrectly. Additionally, the user can access an in-game menu that grants them to spawn PAPI lights, check their task list, restart the simulation, and quit.

• The output of a training session includes the settings chosen for the training scenario, attempts to place PAPI, placing accuracy, event information, and timestamps. 

• Future work will include a desktop more, additional user roles, improved realism for the environment, and a multiplayer option.