CDB: A Common Environment Database for Real-time Simulation

Complex combat mission simulators include a wide range of subsystems designed to simulate aircraft equipment and to provide a rich gaming environment complete with weather, computer generated forces, weaponry, air traffic, networked players, etc. Currently, each of these subsystems typically utilizes a unique (usually proprietary) runtime format for its synthetic representation of the gaming area. These unique formats are usually generated off-line at a database generation facility using a variety of tools and processes. This approach has several inherent disadvantages, including: length of time needed for production; loss of correlation due to compilation differences; complexity in configuration management; and inefficient update process. In the case of networked training, such as mission rehearsal, additional challenges are presented to address interoperability. The US Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Ft. Campbell, in conjunction with the Army’s Program Executive Office Simulation Training and Instrumentation has undertaken the challenge of addressing these and other concerns. To this end, a new standard is being developed to provide all simulators sub-system a single synthetic representation of the entire world in a run-time format. The CDB standard (Common DataBase) will be implemented initially on a MH-47G Combat Mission Simulator, followed by a MH-60K Block 1 Combat Mission Simulator, and eventually throughout the US Special Operations Community. This approach will provide for a single representation of all terrain, culture, and associated attributes that comprehensively addresses all subsystem requirements. This paper will describe the overall concepts, and implementation of the CDB standard.