MetaVR VRSG in US Army MUSE TUAS Demo at NASCAR 2004 Events

The U.S. Army MUSE program used 10 MetaVR™ real-time VRSG™ UAS visualization applications in its Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (TUAS) demonstration system that was present at NASCAR race events throughout 2004. These demo systems gave the general public the opportunity to briefly play the role of a UAV, or Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) payload operator. The systems were on display at 23 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events around the USA; the first demonstration took place at the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2004.

Images of the demonstration system on this page were taken at the NASCAR events Daytona 500 on February 15 and at Food City 500 at the Bristol TN Motor Speedway on March 28, 2004.

VRSG software was used in the Shadow Control Station, an element of the Go Army NASCAR mobile interactive unit, which was designed specifically for use at NASCAR events to promote Army recruitment efforts. The Shadow Control Station demonstration provided NASCAR race fans with a virtual Shadow TUAV mission using field caliber tracking and guidance equipment.

Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter (DRASH) control center that houses the 10 demonstration video stations shown in the images below.

The demonstration included a Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter (DRASH) control center with 10 individual video control stations. The demonstration system consisted of the turnkey MUSE system in which a participant assumed the role of a TUAS Mission Payload Operator and performed a 2-minute mission to identify hostile targets on a synthetic 3D battlefield. The mission consisted of finding enemy tanks and armored personnel carriers using the payload joystick.

  Inside the DRASH control center: MetaVR's VRSG provides the TUAS payload display of the National Training Center (NTC).

The simulated TUAS flew MetaVR's National Training Center (NTC) database autonomously in a preplanned mission or "racetrack" repeating pattern; the participant controlled only the payload. As the participant watched the moving MetaVR VRSG TUAS payload display, he or she could move the payload at a high or low rate of speed over the terrain and zoom in or out using the payload joystick. On the Control Station Surrogate (CSS) control station the participant could see the UAS icon and payload footprint moving across the display with symbology showing the locations of enemy forces.

Participants identifying hostile targets on the synthetic 3D battlefield. A vehicle recognition sheet depicting the hostile targets is displayed next to each monitor to assist participants.

In the real world, an intelligence analyst might have a threat book for the
country or theater of operations, which details the threats they would face; the book would contain operational capabilities and diagrams or photos of those threats. In this demonstration, the vehicle recognition sheet identifies a T72 and T80 as hostile targets, and an M1 as a friendly vehicle.

	Schedule of the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series where the Army MUSE program's TUAV demonstration system was present
	Date	Location	Time
	February 15	Speedway Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway	NBC/Noon EST
	March 21	Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway	FOX/12:30 p.m. EST
	March 28	Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway	FOX/12:30 p.m. EST
	April 4	Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway	FOX/12:30 p.m. EST
	April 25	Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway	FOX/Noon EST
	May 15	Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway	FX/7 p.m. EST
	May 22	NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway	FX/7 p.m. EST
	May 30	Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway	FOX/5 p.m. EST
	June 6	MBNA America 400 at Dover International Speedway	FX/12:30 p.m. EST
	June 13	Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway	FOX/12:30 p.m. EST
	June 20	Michigan 400 Michigan International Speedway	FOX/12:30 p.m. EST
	July 3	Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway	FOX/7 p.m. EST
	July 11	Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway	NBC/2:30 p.m. EST
	July 25	New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway	TNT/1:30 p.m. EST
	August 15	Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen at Watkins Glen International	NBC/1 p.m. EST
	August 22	Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway	TNT/1:30 p.m. EST
	August 28	Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway	TNT/7 p.m. EST
	September 11	Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 at Richmond International Raceway	TNT/7 p.m. EST
	September 26	MBNA America 400 at Dover International Speedway	TNT/12:30 p.m. EST
	October 10	Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods at Kansas Speedway	NBC/12:30 p.m. EST
	October 16	UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway	NBC/7 p.m. EST
	October 31	Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway	NBC/Noon EST
	November 21	Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway	NBC/12:30 p.m EST