LOS
ANGELES, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.
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.
Last June, Specular Theory was awarded an AFWERX TACFI contract
to expand its EARL trainer for KC-46 receiver AAR training, which
the company delivered in less than 10 months. Initial feedback and
testing have already shown it to be beneficial in accelerating air
refueling proficiency for KC-46 pilots.
"The technology developed by Specular Theory is a complementary
medium of our training programs for the Formal Training Units
housed at Altus Air Force Base and enables us to achieve student
production requirements," said U.S. Air Force Col. John Masterson, 97th Air Mobility Wing
Operations Group commander.
Specular Theory has since received significant funding from AETC
and AMC to continue expanding EARL's capabilities by adding more
receiver aircraft across the Mobility Air Forces portfolio,
including the C-17. Additionally, funds will be used to expand the
Boom Air Refueling Trainer (BART) within EARL for KC-46 and KC-135
boom operator training. This will allow real boom operators to
practice and refuel against real receiver pilots flying in EARL, as
well as refuel against various automated AI receiver aircraft,
including fighters and bombers.
In addition to EARL, Specular Theory's mobile virtual reality
aircraft trainer (MAT) has been crucial for the USAF in optimizing
training timelines, reducing re-fly rates, enhancing efficiency in
both simulators and actual aircraft, and decreasing the required
instructor time with students.
Ryan Pulliam, Co-Founder of
Specular Theory, commented, "We are making flight training more
portable, personal, precise, and powerful than ever before,
enabling the USAF to train more pilots better and faster than ever
before."
In addition to their proven and rapid scaling EARL and MAT
trainers, Specular Theory was also selected as the flight control
supplier for Air Mobility Command's AVTRAT program.
Since its founding in 2013, Specular Theory has delivered the
most commercially successful and critically acclaimed work in the
immersive technology industry, winning more awards than any other
company in the XR space. Rooted in Hollywood visual effects, AAA gaming, and Big
Tech, Specular Theory has become a major player in commercial and
defense tech, bringing new capabilities and innovative tech to the
Air Force that extend and enhance the availability of training for
C-17, KC-46, C-130J, KC-135, C-146, AC-130J, B-52, T-1, T-1AMP, and
T-6 aircrews.
Contact:
Catherine
Roscart
380052@email4pr.com
855-728-6269 ext 102
www.speculartheory.com
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SOURCE Specular Theory