Simulated Lightweight Laser Designators and Range Finders

Lightweight Laser Designators and range finders are used by forward air controllers (FACs), or JTACS, to illuminate targets for aircraft and artillery strikes.

For fielding in simulation training facilities, MetaVR™ visualization software works with simulated laser designator-type hardware. When a simulated laser designator is coupled with MetaVR's 3D visualization technology, MetaVR's Virtual Reality Scene Generator™ (VRSG™) generates the simulated sensor video 3D scene and the range and coordinates of the designated target. When an operator laser designates a target, a DIS PDU is transmitted to indicate the range designation information to other simulations on the network.

Among the images below, the ones on the left depict the actual Ground Laser Target Designator (GLTD) II unit from Northrop Grumman, on the right are front and back views of the simulated GLTD II from Minerva Engineering, which is interoperable with MetaVR visualization software:

Minerva specializes in integrating the actual, simulated, and emulated equipment in fully immersive VR training environments. Minerva's GLTD II Emulator provides simulated images and sounds of tactical situations and appropriate user feedback (such as range, HOT, reticule, normal and emergency indicators). The unit accepts video input from VRSG via standard DB 15 VGA connector, SVGA/SXGA video at 60 Hz. The display resolution is 1280 x 1024 at 60 Hz. Its resolution is 800 x 600 at the high-contrast setting and 1280 x 1024 at the 24-bit color setting. The unit has the size, weight, and feel of the actual GLTD II device.

Another simulated laser designator from Minerva that interoperates with VRSG is the simulated Mark VII device. Below are images of (top) Northrop Grumman's actual Mark VII Laser Target Locator and (bottom) views of the Mark VII Emulator from Minerva Eingineering.

Top: Two photos of the actual Mark VII unit from Northrop Grumman. Bottom: Views of the Mark VII Emulator from Minerva Engineering. The simulated device shown here replicates the housing of the actual device. Photos courtesy of Northrup Grumman and Minerva Engineering.

Minerva's Mark VII Emulator has the total feature set of the actual Mark VII Laser Target Locator. The unit accepts video input via standard DB 15 VGA connector, SVGA/SXGA video at 60 Hz. Its resolution is 800 x 600 at the high-contrast setting and 1280 x 1024 at the 24-bit color setting. The unit has the size, weight and feel of the actual Mark VII.