Valkyrie
Overview.
The Challenge.
Valkyrie’s purpose is to accelerate training progress towards combat standards and test and assure that these standards are being met. To meet these objectives, we needed to determine the current user issues (e.g. the highly subjective nature of CQC assessment) that needed to be overcome, before developing methods for data capture, playback, and simple analysis.
The Solution
To meet these aims, our multi-disciplinary team adopted a user-centred design approach. We conducted user research to ensure our understanding of the range of user needs and constraints from the technical, tactical, operational, and strategic level of the end user CQC operational model. This included: early interviews with serving CQC professionals, observation sessions, and frequent user feedback on designs and prototypes of the hardware device, debrief user interface, and setup processes.
We developed a prototype comprising a range of technologies, including positional and orientation devices and data, containerised web services, and gaming engines.
Digi2al then supported testing in various representative CQC training environments. To explore ideas around richer virtual training reconstruction, we evaluated currently available methods for human pose estimation, demonstrating a working machine learning-based prototype. Using Valkyrie tracking data, we also demonstrated operator and team performance metrics, such as speed of movement, spatial dwell and clearance coverage.
The Results.
Digi2al successfully delivered an end-to-end system using an agile and user-centred approach to research and development. The system encompasses a wide range of technologies including radio-frequency ranging, TCP/IP networking, messaging, data processing and storage, LiDAR scanning, 3D modelling, and gaming engines. The project has also investigated the production of analytics, which could be used to inform performance comparison and human pose estimation.
“The Valkyrie system provides an independent, objective tool for the debriefing of students after CQC training. It enables the instructional staff to provide evidence based feedback to promote better learning and measure changes in performance. Students can be shown their actions and better understand what they need to change to enhance their performance. As the system evolves it could be used to support other firearms training programmes where students are required to move through complex environments in a tactical manner.” Chief Inspector Joseph Stokoe, Police Adviser – Frontline Policing, Home Office Science and Technology
Project highlights.
