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Team uses game to match problems with solutions

  • Published
  • By Daryl Mayer, AFLCMC Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) – The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Simulators Division’s Innovation Cell devised a unique and fun way to marry new technologies with old problems with their version of a reality show game.    
 
Rather than pitch a single idea for a problem, the cell will bring in multiple prototypes in a means to find the best “match.”  They expect this approach in exposing new technologies will help identify opportunities to leverage across the enterprise.
 
“This year we've come up with a new idea, called the Innovation Match Game,” said Margaret Merkle, Chief of Innovation Programs.  “[It] has them look at other use cases across the Air Force to see if we can reuse this technology in another space and leverage the investment that the Air Force has made.” 

The Simulators Division is responsible for delivering training and simulation capabilities to warfighters.  They currently manage 2,300 devices across the world that train pilots, aircrews, maintainers, etc.  Having the ability to integrate all these systems would offer huge benefits. 
 
One example, according to Dylan Greco, Innovation Cell Program Manager, would be using a virtual environment to allow crews to practice loading a Joint Direct Attack Munition on a B-52 without tying up an aircraft or using an actual munition. 
 
“It really sets people up, both the users and training units, really well,” he said.  “They can spend their time making this training as real as they can.” 
 
The cost savings in terms of dollars, time and manpower are substantial. 
 
“They're a great way to immerse somebody in an environment and have that be a safe place to explore and learn those things that don't tie up an aircraft and don't tie up a bunch of equipment or a bunch of other people unnecessarily,” Merkle added.  “One of the one of the great things about training in the virtual reality headset is that you can repeat things over and over again until you're familiar with how things operate and you're not like tying up a whole classroom of people, while you're doing that.”
 
The Innovation Cell also recognizes the benefits offered by combining real and virtual assets during training.    
 
To hear the full conversation, you can watch Leadership Log on YouTube at https://youtu.be/UPG7O1t8mUQ.  You can also listen by searching “Leadership Log” on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Overcast, Radio Public or Breaker.  

Units or companies that would like to be involved should reach out to AFLCMC.WNS.Sims_Innovate@us.af.mil for more information.  The deadline for applications is September 10, 2021.