ExpeditionDI provides one glimpse of a cutting-edge application that allows soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to conduct realistic mission rehearsal exercises, just-in time training, and other transformational missions. The 25-pound ExpeditionDI unit features the fidelity of realistic M4, M16, and M249 training weapons, each equipped with a Quantum3D patent-pending Wireless Controller. The system is battery-powered, and also integrates familiar COTS components such as Intersense precision trackers, Blackhawk Load Bearing vests, eMagin Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) and other products. At the heart of the ExpeditionDI system is a Quantum3D Thermite Tactical Visual Computer— a man-wearable embedded visual computer system that interfaces to the sensors on the soldier’s helmet, body and training weapon, hosts the soldier simulation 3D software application, and provides wireless connectivity to the other soldiers involved in the simulation, as well as the instructor operator.

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Because ExpeditionDI is self-contained in terms of processing the 3D environment the soldier experiences and interoperates within, it does not need to send significant data to other soldiers via the system’s wireless network. Similar to on-line multi-player games, ExpeditionDI’s low-bandwidth networking requirements offer intriguing prospects for distributed training. For example, a squad in Iraq or Afghanistan could train with a squad back home preparing for deployment in order facilitate the transfer of lessons learned.

The U.S. military's training programs are also evolving from being completed at one or more fixed-sites, to accommodating the training audience at widely-dispersed training areas. Servicemen and women at U.S. sites routinely train with other U.S. forces, and increasingly with allied and coalition partners, at other U.S. or overseas venues through more capable technology infrastructure. The DoD’s Joint National Training Capability, with persistent and temporary sites in the U.S. and overseas, is one effort to establish a Live-Virtual-Constructive training environment and achieve this new training objective. Since it is designed for deployed operation and incorporates wireless connectivity, ExpeditionDI enables training to be set up in remote facilities or areas on an ad-hoc basis, allowing troops to train as they operate in an un-tethered environment.