Specular Theory, a trailblazer in immersive training technology, is excited to announce that it has secured substantial funding through multiple Major Commands (MAJCOMs) within the U.S. Air Force, including Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), and Air Force Global Strike Command’s (AFGSC) innovation arm STRIKEWERX.
Since initiating their partnership with the U.S. Air Force, Specular Theory has become one of the most successful SBIR stories, beginning with an initial SBIR Direct-to-Phase II contract that resulted in more than 10 consecutive SBIR Phase III sole-source contracts and one AFWERX TACFI contract. In just six years of working with the USAF, Specular Theory has rapidly scaled its XR training products from one to over 10 USAF Major Weapon Systems, including Mobility, Bomber, and Air Force Special Operations Forces.
The company’s two flagship immersive training products, “EARL” and “MAT,” which include a mobile virtual reality procedural trainer and a virtual reality part-task trainer for air refueling, have proven highly effective for USAF training. These products not only reduce time and costs but also produce higher quality graduates much faster. What makes these products unique is their highly realistic and accurate XR training combined with the level of innovation and ingenuity the company is known for. The EARL system, for example, uses a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) plug-in, Force Feedback controls, AI Instruction, Adaptive Learning, and Multiplayer functionality for multi-crew and multi-aircraft training on one system.
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Specular Theory developed EARL in 2021 when it was awarded a Phase III sole-source contract by the USAF AFLCMC/WNS Sim Innovation Cell to expand their virtual trainer capabilities to address B-52 air refueling challenges. Within 12 months, Specular Theory successfully delivered the EARL virtual reality part-task trainer for air-to-air refueling to the B-52 FTU at Barksdale. That same year, EARL won the USAF Sim Innovation Match Game in the Virtual Part-Task Trainer Category at the 2021 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC). Since its initial delivery, EARL has already been proven to train more pilots faster and significantly reduce the number of sorties required for pilots to achieve proficiency, averaging 2 sorties fewer than the historical average.
“Specular Theory has consistently gone over and above to deliver an amazing training tool. Our pilots are able to easily access a quality training tool giving them a chance to receive extra instruction and perform much needed repetition of a difficult training task,” says Lt Col Brandon ‘Steppen’ Wolf at the 93rd Bomb Squadron at Barksdale AFB. “Additionally, EARL has various tools which afford a different approach to training rather than traditional training methods. Students can review their performance and analytical data, allowing a deeper understanding of what is going on and how mistakes were made. The impact of this training tool will pay dividends for years to come within the B-52 community.”
“At Specular Theory, it has been an honor to transform buzzwords into tangible results. By leveraging our cutting-edge Virtual Reality and AI, we deliver realistic, immersive, and cost-effective solutions that keep Airmen battle-ready,” said Morris May, CEO of Specular Theory.
SOURCE: PRNewswire