Digital Firing paving the way to new ways of training police and Special Forces
The Digital Firing solution that Thales is working on is designed to replace current training procedures in which laser-based devices are used in mock-up scenarios by trainees, the associated instructor monitoring and assessment lacking added value because of the difficulty to draw on hard data and facts. The system conceived by Thales provides analysable data for live session debriefing, enabling users to measure performance, communicate using factual recordings, and ultimately provides a platform to continuously improve or even elaborate new tactics.
Joachim Laguarda explains that “Thales’s new-generation streamlined system comprises a compact digital module that can be instantly mounted on the trainee’s weapon without any need for additional calibration, enabling training to immediately commence.” He adds that “this is coupled with a smartphone application so that the trainee can sign into the system and monitor the results obtained in real time. Meanwhile, the instructor has access to a full web interface that tracks all events and results, delivering detailed information with regard to aspects such as ballistics, stability, the time spent aiming, etc.”
One of the innovations of the Digital Firing system is that instructors can also navigate back and forth within the timeline of the scenario, observing all past positioning and shooting data as it evolved throughout the exercise. The use of Artificial Intelligence is also set to take the Thales Digital Firing offering to new heights. Joachim points out that “AI is used to identify and know what each target represents, and to forecast how different types of ammunition will behave according to the target, obstacles and environment. AI is bringing a whole new level of intelligence to the system”.
Advanced prototype showing promise
Thales’s Digital Firing solution is currently at the advanced prototype stage and has already generated much interest at trade shows. Thales’s current objective revolves around sales leads that are currently in progress and that could result in the initial deployable product being rolled out in the third quarter of 2021. Joachim underlines that “the software solution has already reached maturity, with more functionality to be added in the future. Meanwhile, our teams in Germany are working on the industrialized module to enable future series production.”
Indoor and outdoor trials are also ongoing to enhance the Digital Firing offering by working on areas such as low-light operations, the detection of high-speed targets, and the extension of the scope of use, the range of which currently runs from close range to up to 200 metres. As Joachim Laguarda explains, “through the incorporation of different types of cameras and lenses, we are looking at potential range spans of up to one or two kilometres, i.e. the operational distance of a sniper.”
By building on the current hardware and software, and continuously improving and strengthening the capabilities provided, Joachim is in no doubt that “within three to five years, this sort of system is set to completely replace laser-based marksmanship and cooperative trainers”.
You can download a full version of the paper from the Documents section below.
About Joachim
Joachim Laguarda is a Product Design Engineer for Thales Training & Simulation. After a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Joachim joined Thales as an R&D engineer in 2005. He then worked for 10 years as a software architect on synthetic environments, computer-generated forces, and augmented reality simulators for various civil and defence projects. Since 2018, Joachim has managed the Innovation Lab based in Cergy (France near Paris) and collaborates with local start-ups and SMEs, he has developed a small arms training debriefing system and is currently working on a real-time digital firing solution.