PC-RIS: The Next Generation Tool for Exercise Control and AARs

Cubic-developed Exercise Monitoring and Control systems -- including our advanced PC - Range Instrumentation System (PC-RIS) -- allow observer/controller/analysts to create exercise scenarios, monitor the mock battles and record the events for After-Action Reviews (AARs). The AARs can be conducted in fixed theaters or mobile units, where troops can review the details of the exercise and lessons-learned via a multimedia presentation.

Introducing PC-RIS
PC-RIS provides fifth-generation exercise control capabilities and streamlines the development of After Action Reviews on personal or laptop computers. It is a highly transportable system that supports mobile training missions, from Brigade-level exercises requiring multiple workstations to Home Station training for platoons utilizing laptops. It can also be used for tactical or Homeland Security missions requiring situational awareness.

• A family of functional components for Exercise Monitoring and Control (EXCON) and AARs
• Supports simultaneous exercises
• Supports simultaneous scenarios (i.e., sub-exercises), each with an independent clock that can be paused, continued or rewound. Versioned scenarios can be compared against each other during AARs
• Java-based for maximum portability, extensibility and maintainability
• Extensible by customers with optional software development kit
• Communicates via HLA
• Scalable architecture allows software components to be hosted on a single laptop or distributed to multiple platforms, depending on customer requirements
• Industry-standard Oracle 8i database allows extensive data analysis during and after exercises
• Servers hosted on Unix, Linux, Windows NT or Windows 2000
• Workstations hosted on Windows NT or 2000
• Username/password access
• EXCON and AAR components integrated with Microsoft Office for word processing, spreadsheets, scheduling and presentations
• AAR presentation control through enhanced, industry-standard Microsoft PowerPoint

Interface Server: Provides the external system HLA interface. Performs data filtering and data validation and rectification across multiple exercises and scenarios. Can be combined with data server and workstations on a single computer.

Data Server: Stores all received data into an industry standard Oracle database. Provides replay data sequences to analyst stations on demand. Performs data distribution to active workstations using reliable multicast protocol.

Analyst Workstations: Provides access to standard Microsoft Windows COTS tools. Generates simultaneous situation map displays, each independently tailorable for display units, maps, scale, zoom and in real time or replay. Also provides manual entry screens for the collection of non-instrumented data into the exercise database. Each workstation tailors its capabilities based on the user’s login and password, including remotely hosted operations supporting Observer/Controllers and Fire Marker teams in the field.

After Action Reviews: Provides a fully functional AAR using Microsoft PowerPoint as the presentation controller. For world-class capabilities, PowerPoint is extended via a unique process to allow fully interactive dynamic situation replays directly in PowerPoint.

For Dual Synchronized displays, two PowerPoint presentations are controlled via a custom application to allow full synchronization between presentations. Using these custom Cubic capabilities, the Take Home Packages (THPs) maintain full interactivity of the dynamic displays while running on a standard PC-based CD/DVD player at Home Stations.

Range Control (optional): Provides access to Cubic’s standard range components, including relay radios, player units and Tactical Engagement System devices. This feature can be provided as is or tailored to your specific range solution.