Support: Stryker Simulator Stimulates Savings

Archives

May 11, 2007: The U.S. Army has received the first of ten Stryker vehicle simulators. Costing $800,000 each, they duplicate the driver and commander stations, using several video screens to display computer supplied views of where they are. Using the same kind of 3-D graphics found in high-end video games, the Stryker simulator becomes "immersive" (the user forgets they are in a simulator.)

Armored vehicle simulators have become increasingly common in the American army. One reason is cost, because for each kilometer these vehicles travel, it costs up to $25 in fuel, maintenance and spare parts. That number is pretty shocking to most people, but armored vehicles cost up to five million dollars each, and are full of complex mechanical and electronic gadgets that wear out quickly.

The Stryker simulator allows new drivers to get lots of practice without wearing out vehicles. It also allows drivers and commanders to increase their teamwork, and to try out maneuvers that are risky, but sometimes necessary (in combat.) This also saves a lot of wear and tear, not to mention avoiding the risk of injury.

The software includes driving simulation for a wide variety of terrain (desert, mountain, urban) and weather (Summer rains, Spring mud and Winter ice).

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close