Niceville, Florida — December 3, 2024 — Vertex Solutions, a Woman-Owned Small Business recognized
for its excellence in systems integration and advanced learning technology, is thrilled to announce they have been selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to lead an exciting new research initiative on VR flight simulation standards, alongside esteemed partners Varjo and Aechelon Technology, Inc.
Through the FAA’s Immersive Flight Simulation CRADA RFI (692M15-IFSRFI-CRADA), this partnership unites Vertex’s extensive experience in extended reality (XR) training, Varjo’s industry-leading XR headsets, and Aechelon’s advanced visual simulation systems to explore the transformative impact of XR in pilot training. Vertex Solutions will also incorporate a mixed reality (MR) approach to advance the study with the best technology available.
With this landmark collaboration, Vertex, Varjo, and Aechelon will combine their expertise to assist the agency in enhancing the FAA’s CSF S-76 simulator for XR visualization. This setup will allow the FAA to conduct rigorous experiments on XR head-mounted display (HMD) specifications, including latency, resolution, and field of view. These trials will assess how XR variables affect pilot performance and workload, providing critical insights for establishing new XR standards in aviation training.
“Partnering with Varjo and Aechelon enables us to bring the very best in VR technology to this FAA project,” said Dennis Wikoff, President & COO at Vertex Solutions. “Together, we aim to help the FAA set new benchmarks that could redefine training methods and support the integration of VR into official flight simulator standards. We’re honored to collaborate on this project and shape the future of immersive flight training.”
The core objective of this collaborative agreement is to identify the minimum XR system specifications required for effective use in pilot training. Vertex Solutions will work alongside the FAA to enhance the S-76 simulator with XR functionality, allowing the FAA to conduct in-depth research scenarios using the new setup.
FAA pilots will run through these scenarios, which will involve varying key XR parameters such as field of view and latency to determine their impact on pilot performance.
The final output of this collaboration will include a comprehensive report on the findings, detailing how specific XR HMD metrics influence pilot workload and training efficacy. This report will be shared with FAA sponsors to guide decisions on potential updates to federal flight simulator regulations.
For more information, please contact marketing@vertexsolutions.com, press@varjo.com, or at the contact form at https://aechelon.com/.
About Vertex Solutions
Vertex Solutions delivers mission-critical training solutions that empower people to excel in
complex, real-world environments. Specializing in systems integration for XR training
technology, Vertex has a proven record of success with U.S. and international military clients, as
well as Government, Commercial, and Civil Aviation sectors. Vertex is dedicated to enhancing
training quality, reducing costs, and improving safety through innovative integration and expert
collaboration.
https://www.vertexsolutions.com/
About Varjo
Varjo is the world-leading provider of enterprise virtual and mixed reality solutions, delivering
the highest levels of immersion, performance, and security for the most demanding industrial
customers globally. Used by over 25% of the Fortune 100 and 19/20 of the world’s largest
defense and aerospace companies, Varjo is known for virtual and mixed reality that look and
feel as real as the real world, allowing training astronauts and fighter jet pilots, designing cars,
and conducting pioneering medical research across virtual environments.
Our hardware and software solutions integrate with the world’s largest ecosystem of
professional 3D software, image generators, and advanced simulator hardware. With Varjo’s
offering, including the latest XR-4 Series and the government-compliant XR-4 Secure Edition,
professionals can recreate the exact feeling and conditions of real life in 3D, allowing them
to train faster, better, and more cost-effectively.
www.varjo.com
About Aechelon Technology
Aechelon Technology, Inc. is a leading provider of real-time computer graphics solutions for
training, simulation, and commercial markets. The company specializes in COTS-based, high-resolution, multi-channel, geo-specific image generators, out-the-window (OTW) displays, and
correlated worldwide sensor databases, along with comprehensive integration services.
Aechelon delivers top-tier solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments,
and prime contractors in commercial applications. Its image generators are field-proven, fully
supported with logistics, and accompanied by comprehensive documentation. Aechelon
Technology is ISO 9001:2015 certified and is headquartered in South San Francisco, CA. Visit
www.aechelon.com for more information.
Aechelon Technology is a trademark of Aechelon Technology, Inc.