The Altair-Automation Alley AIM FIRE (Advanced Innovative Methods for Improved Reliability & Efficiency) Military Day brought together industry professionals from the US military and their supply chain to discuss trends and advancements in simulation methods. The event addressed a range of technologies that are driving improvements in military ground wheeled vehicle product development.
We were honored to have Colonel Robert W. Schumitz, deputy program executive officer (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology), combat support & combat service support, deliver the keynote presentation that highlighted the status and trends of simulation and modeling in the military acquisition process, setting the tone for the presenters that followed. Brigadier General Michael A. Stone, Assistant Adjutant General-Installations Michigan National Guard built on this, examining the role of simulation in Army training after Afghanistan. The effect of the drawdown and advances in technology present both a unique challenge and an opportunity to the warfighter training community.
Other highlights of the day included Dr. Mitch Rohde of Quantum Signal, who discussed the application of video game technology to military vehicle simulations, specifically real-time, interactive UGV mobility; and Dr. Cynthia Bir, Biomedical Engineering Director of Research, Orthopedic Surgery at Wayne State University. Dr. Bir is well known as the lead engineer to Fight Science on National Geographic Channel and Sports Science on ESPN. She spoke to the AIM FIRE attendees about blast injury biomechanics and the activities in her laboratory to better understand this type of trauma.
Altair ProductDesign also was represented on the agenda. Regu Ramoo demonstrated the power of structural optimizations and then went on to describe how the gains of a tactical application of this technology can be multiplied through the adoption of an Optimization Center. Quick “wins” and broad technology transfer are two characteristics of Altair Optimization Centers, and they have helped our customers establish a Culture of Optimization. Phil Kosarek also presented an overview of composites applications in ground vehicles and discussed how simulation can assist the adoption of new materials through increasing design knowledge with CAE.
There also were presentations from two of our HyperWorks Partner Alliance members. EMSS the creators of FEKO discussed the use of this tool for antenna design and placement on Ground and Air Vehicles. Human Solutions, makers of RAMSIS, presented an advanced method for vision analysis in military vehicles using a Human Model.
