Military Simulation Research Articles

Military Medical Simulations-Scoping Review.

The military employs a wide variety of training paradigms to prepare a ready medical force. Simulation-based training is prominently used in the military for all roles of care to provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to render care from the battlefield to the hospital. The purpose of this scoping review is to synthesize the body of research in military healthcare simulation, highlight trends in the literature, and identify research gaps. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis process, the databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, and targeted conferences were searched for articles focused on simulation-based training in the military healthcare community. Inclusion criteria required that the studies assessed a healthcare simulation intervention and had military participants. Data were gathered on population parameters (branch of service and provider level) as well as study parameter (simulation modality, medical domain, and outcome measures). Outcome measures were categorized according to the Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation. A total of 43 articles met inclusion criteria. Article summaries and descriptive data on the participant populations and study parameters are provided in Tables1, 2, and Supplementary Table S1. Participant populations were inclusive of all the services and roles of care, suggesting appropriate representation of the broad military healthcare community. The majority of literature has studied physical simulations, such as manikins or task trainers. Few studies employed augmented or virtual reality as the training intervention, likely because of the nascency of the technology. Trauma care was the focus of 65% of the studies; this is attributable to the criticality of trauma care within battlefield medicine and casualty response. Related to study outcomes, participant reactions, such as usability and user acceptance, and immediate learning outcomes were heavily studied. Retention and behavioral changes were rarely studied and represent a significant research gap. Future research assessing mixed reality technologies would be beneficial to determine whether the technology warrants inclusion in programs of instruction. Finally, studies with outcome measures including long-term knowledge and skills retention, behavioral change, or patient outcomes are strongly recommended for future research.

AI-driven adaptive analysis for finding emergent behavior in military capability design

This article introduces and demonstrates a new methodology for searching for emergent behavior in simulation-based analysis as rare, extreme events using adaptive techniques enabled by recent advances in Bayesian machine learning (ML). The new methodology, Low-cost Adaptive exploratioN to Track down Extreme, Rare events using Numerical optimization (LANTERN), supports analysis activities in defense planning that iteratively build up the understanding of new technology and concept alternatives in complex military scenarios. Central to this process is emergent behavior—hard-to-predict but highly important behaviors that present problems or opportunities. These unexpected behaviors can be generated in complex military scenarios and are crucial to decision-making, but are often difficult to find and work with due to the expense and cost of the existing approaches for working with high-fidelity military simulation. To address this challenge, LANTERN is formulated to accelerate the discovery of emergent behavior as rare, extreme events by combining human expert understanding with new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven adaptive experimentation techniques in iterative analysis. A demonstration of the methodology is presented using military agent-based simulation scenarios developed in the Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM). The demonstration highlights how analysis can focus directly on searching for emergent behavior and shows substantial improvements over brute-force Monte Carlo approaches.

Bridging Theory and Practice in Military Education Through Advanced Technologies

This study presents a comprehensive examination of the developmental trajectory and operational advancement of a pioneering military simulation apparatus explicitly engineered to facilitate the seamless integration of joint fire support principles within the ambit of military education, with a specific focus on artillery students. The Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology provided by industry leaders such as Microsoft and Meta present solutions for interdisciplinary pursuits situated at the confluence of emergent technologies and contemporary military instructional methodologies. Central to the efficacy of this endeavour is the incorporation of meticulously crafted virtual and augmented reality models of authentic military equipment to imbue the simulation experience with unparalleled realism and fidelity to the principles of artillery fires. Collaborative ventures with private enterprises have facilitated the production of a simulator characterized by its gamification elements and unparalleled verisimilitude, enhancing its efficacy as an educational tool. Augmented by spatial intelligence gleaned from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) sensors, the simulation framework can be further enriched by integrating true-to-life topographic representations meticulously synthesized by amalgamating laser scanning methodologies. Positioned as an indispensable cornerstone within the academic purview of the esteemed Department of Fire Support at the University of Defence, this initiative aspires to impart foundational knowledge and cultivate a proactive ethos of inquiry and engagement amongst the students. Furthermore, the simulator is a pivotal instrument for military training, offering a risk-free environment devoid of the hazards associated with live artillery fire exercises. By mitigating financial burdens and other logistical constraints inherent in conventional training methodologies, this innovative simulation apparatus represents a paradigm shift in contemporary military education and training practices.

Сombat operations model of a single self-propelled artillery system for the computer game ARMA 3

Military computer games are an important segment of the world media culture and media business. In addition to the entertainment aspect, military simulators play an important role in the training of future military specialists. However, quite often the scenario component of military gaming lags behind the rapid development of real military equipment. World experience of military conflicts of the 21st century shows that the most intensively developing segment of ground forces weapons is its artillery component. In this paper, a model of combat use of a new generation artillery system is developed. The model is intended for modification of the military game ARMA 3. The new generation artillery system is a large-caliber gun with a high level of automation. It has a high rate of fire, maneuverability, and shooting accuracy. Due to these qualities, the new generation artillery system is comparable in combat power to a unit of traditional guns and can carry out combat operations in single mode. A technique has been developed for dynamically assessing the current combat capability of an artillery system, taking into account the resource costs during fire activity, including indirect hits by the enemy. It is shown that in addition to traditional tactical counter-battery tasks, an artillery system can be used to destroy a suddenly emerging high-risk target. A high-risk target is a non-artillery system capable of causing very large damage in a short period of time. Based on the method of dynamically assessing the current combat capability, a tree of artillery system states is constructed. It includes the most probable states of the artillery system and the corresponding design parameters. A ratio is obtained that allows, for a known state of the artillery system, to estimate the number of shots needed to hit the target with the required guaranteed probability. Calculated examples show that a new-generation artillery system is capable of destroying a high-risk target, sometimes even at the cost of its own loss. The developed model is implemented and is being tested as a mod for the war game ARMA 3.

Cardiac autonomic responses in relation to cognitive workload during simulated military flight

Understanding the operator's cognitive workload is crucial for efficiency and safety in human–machine systems. This study investigated how cognitive workload modulates cardiac autonomic regulation during a standardized military simulator flight. Military student pilots completed simulated flight tasks in a Hawk flight simulator. Continuous electrocardiography was recorded to analyze time and frequency domain heart rate variability (HRV). After the simulation, a flight instructor used a standardized method to evaluate student pilot's individual cognitive workload from video-recorded flight simulator data. Results indicated that HRV was able to differentiate flight phases that induced varying levels of cognitive workload; an increasing level of cognitive workload caused significant decreases in many HRV variables, mainly reflecting parasympathetic deactivation of cardiac autonomic regulation. In conclusion, autonomic physiological responses can be used to examine reactions to increased cognitive workload during simulated military flights. HRV could be beneficial in assessing individual responses to cognitive workload and pilot performance during simulator training.

Stress and resilience among military medical students completing a high-fidelity military medical simulation

Background High-fidelity medical simulations can help students successfully navigate the stressors of medical training and practice. Because sufficiently high stress levels can interfere with learning, the balance of stress and resilience factors during simulation training should be carefully curated. However, student experiences of stress and resilience during high-fidelity simulations are seldom well characterized, especially in military medical training. With this in mind, the authors investigated students’ lived experiences of stress and resilience during a well-established high-fidelity simulation at a military medical school. Methods Fourth-year active-duty military medical students (n = 23) from the United States Air Force, Army, and Navy who were attending Operation Bushmaster – a 5-day, high-fidelity military medical simulation – were interviewed during and after the simulation. Data were analyzed via a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative approach. Another 21 students reported their stress levels and trait mindfulness. Experts rated their performance at Operation Bushmaster. Results Participant narratives pointed towards major internal stressors, including chronic uncertainty and fluctuating motivation, and external stressors, such as weather and equipment-related challenges. Narratives also identified multiple factors that mitigated stress, including the use of mindfulness skills (especially mindful/tactical breathing), giving/receiving social support, shifting perspectives to centre connections between Operation Bushmaster and students’ professional purpose, and positive self-talk that gave participants permission to make mistakes and learn from them. There was a moderate positive correlation between mindfulness and performance at Operation Bushmaster. Conclusions These stress and resilience factors are critical leverage points for educators seeking to optimize learning during Operation Bushmaster and other high-fidelity simulation trainings. Future research should continue to examine how the balance of these factors impacts medical students’ immediate learning (e.g. regarding medical decision-making, skill and leadership) and longer-term ability to successfully navigate the stressors of the medical profession.

Advancing IOT Security: A Systemic and Cognitive Framework for Military Application

In the coming years, the protection of data, objects, networks, systems, and individuals within the Internet of Things (IoT) will take center stage in research and standardization efforts. The extensive connectivity of smart objects, coupled with their significant limitations, gives rise to numerous security issues that are not addressed by traditional security problem formulations and solutions. This work presents an overview of an IoT security roadmap to guide researchers interested in this field, basedona unique systemic andcognitive perspective. The function of each element of this approach will be clarified, and its relationships with other components and their influence on the entire system will be elaborated. In line with the innovative classification of IoT vision, a case study involving a military live simulation will be showcased to underline the components and interactions of the systemic and cognitive method. Following this, a discussionon security concerns related to privacy, trust, identification, and access control will be conducted, and various research challenges will be underscored.

Computer Simulators - Modern Tools For Training Future Officers And Sergets

The purpose of this article was to consider the prerequisites for the emergence, stages and prospects for the development of military computer games in the Republic of Kazakhstan, used in combat training of the armed forces of a number of states, as well as an attempt to conduct a comparative assessment of various military simulators using developed military computer programs. Simulators of military weapons at the present stage play an important role in preparing future reserve officers and sergeants in the Republic of Kazakhstan for real combat operations. They are computer programs or physical devices that help simulate various aspects of military combat activities. One of the main advantages of using computer simulations is the ability to create realistic combat conditions without having to risk lives and resources. Future officers and NCOs can enhance their professional skills through simulations to develop strategic and tactical skills, make real-time decisions and coordinate the actions of their units. In our opinion, the use of military weapons simulators provides an opportunity to gain excellent skills in working with military weapons, reduces training time for beginners, improves reactions and quick decision-making, and of course reduces the risk of injury during training. So, simulators of weapons and military equipment will contribute to the training of future reserve officers and sergeants, helping to develop their skills, leadership qualities and make effective decisions in combat situations. A modern approach effectively complements traditional military training.

Training Reinforcement Learning Agents to React to an Ambush for Military Simulations

Training Reinforcement Learning Agents to React to an Ambush for Military Simulations

Leveraging Organizational Hierarchy to Simplify Reward Design in Cooperative Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning

The effectiveness of multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) hinges largely on the meticulous arrangement of objectives. Yet, conventional MARL methods might not completely harness the inherent structures present in environmental states and agent relationships for goal organization. This study is conducted within the domain of military training simulations, which are typically characterized by complexity, heterogeneity, non-stationary and doctrine-driven environments with a clear organizational hierarchy and a top-down chain of command. This research investigates the approximation and integration of the organizational hierarchy into MARL for cooperative training scenarios, with the goal of streamlining the processes of reward engineering and enhancing team coordination. In the preliminary experiments, we employed two-tiered commander-subordinate feudal hierarchical (CSFH) networks to separate the prioritized team goal and individual goals. The empirical results demonstrate that the proposed framework enhances learning efficiency. It guarantees the learning of a prioritized policy for the commander agent and encourages subordinate agents to explore areas of interest more frequently, guided by appropriate soft constraints imposed by the commander.

Implementation of intelligent healthcare image detection system based on OpenCV

As an interface between image processing technology and the real world, image detection can achieve real-time capture of information such as images and movements. It has wide applications in fields such as medical rehabilitation, military simulation, and intelligent recognition. This article aims to achieve autonomous medical detection and assist doctors in diagnosis. Based on a detailed analysis of the principles of image detection technology and the current development status of image detection technology, a comprehensive medical detection system solution is designed. Addressing issues such as the tension of hospital registration queues, lengthy doctor-patient consultations, lack of auxiliary diagnostic functions, and non-visualizable diagnosis and treatment results, this study utilizes literature analysis and modeling to simulate the collection and intelligent analysis of surface images of the human body and limb movements. This enables the realization of functions such as image detection, image capture, image transmission, image processing, and medical feedback. This article has completed the design of an intelligent medical system, solving the problem of low medical diagnosis efficiency. At the same time, it has been found that the clarity of infrared thermal imaging images is not high, which affects the accuracy of collecting human surface images and limb movements. The processing of infrared thermal imaging images has become a direction that needs further research.

Механізм формування воєнного туризму в Україні

Background. Military tourism in Ukraine is a relatively new direction that emerged after the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014. According to experts' estimates, around 100,000 tourists interested in the war visited Ukraine in 2023. This figure is 30 % higher than in 2022. International support for Ukraine contributes to increasing awareness of our country and its history. Respect for memory and dignity is a fundamental principle in the ethics of research and interaction with the historical and sensitive topic of military tourism. Methods. General scientific and specialized research methods were employed, including analysis and synthesis, logical structuring, in formulating the theoretical and methodological foundations of the study – the essence of military tourism, aspects of studying military tourism. Expeditionary and remote methods were utilized in gathering initial information – surveying the territories of cities such as Irpin, Hostomel, and Bucha. Geospatial analysis methods were employed in processing the initial information and subsequent analysis – exploring the possibilities of creating thematic routes, which would allow for structuring visits and promoting historical and heritage sites. Geospatial modeling and cartographic methods were employed in analyzing the impact of military aggression on Ukraine on international tourism and in presenting the research results. Results. Military tourism was considered by us as a type of tourism in which tourists visit places and objects associated with armed conflicts, military history, and military events. This type of tourism can encompass various aspects, from visiting military museums and monuments to specialized tours where tourists can participate in military action simulations, visit military sites, and locations of combat. A proposed model for forming the typological structure of military tourism. Conclusions. Tourism based on history and cultural heritage can be more authentic and appealing to tourists. In the academic context, there is emerging research aimed at monitoring, evaluating, and optimizing military tourism routes. One aspect that has contributed to the success of military routes is the coordination of efforts to build a shared identity. It has been found that military tourism can contribute to raising awareness of war, promoting tolerance and understanding among people of different cultures, and fostering the development of Ukraine's economy, including international support for military tourism in Ukraine.

A Reinforcement Learning Approach to Military Simulations in Command: Modern Operations

A Reinforcement Learning Approach to Military Simulations in Command: Modern Operations

Military Health Care Team Cohesion and Performance During Simulation Training.

Military health care team cohesion has been linked to improved performance during simulation training. However, there is a gap in current research regarding the processes by which teams become cohesive within simulation training. The purpose of this study was to explore how health care teams evolve during high-fidelity simulation training and the ways in which team cohesion impacts their performance. The participants in our study were fourth-year military medical students participating in a 5-day high-fidelity military medical simulation during Fall 2022.Twenty-three students volunteered to participate in our study. We interviewed each participant twice during the simulation and then transcribed each interview using an automated transcription service. Guided by the grounded theory tradition of qualitative data analysis, we used open, axial, and selective coding to analyze the interview data. Our data analysis revealed that teams went through a process of (1) struggle, (2) adaptation, (3) perceived improvement, (4) gained confidence, and (5) perceived team cohesion. Teams struggled through the various barriers to group cohesion (i.e., power dynamics, role designation and competency, and task failures and low team confidence) in order to understand their weaknesses. As teams adjusted and noticed improvement, they adapted new patterns, protocols, and standards of practice based on previous failures, improving their overall confidence. The participants perceived their teams as successful once they had progressed through these phases and ended the simulation as a cohesive unit. Our qualitative data analysis provided insight into team cohesion as it was forged by participants in real time as the simulation progressed. The results of our study can be used to promote team cohesion not only during simulation training but also within military health care professional teams in order to enhance their performance in the field.

Game Elements in the Design of Simulations in Military Trauma Management Training: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Military trauma teams are commonly operating in civilian hospitals during peacetime; in a war situation they must adjust their practices to the austere conditions. Simulations can replicate austere conditions to allow training in a safe environment that tolerates errors. Gamification, understood as the use of game elements to motivate and engage learners in nongame contexts, is gaining interest in medical education and military training. Applying game elements in the design of military trauma management simulations has the potential to provide learners with active learning opportunities and prepare them for providing medical services under austere conditions. Although gamification is known for its engaging and motivational benefits, there are controversies about its pedagogical value. The controversies can be attributed to the fact that various gamification strategies may consist of a different combination of game elements, leading to different outcomes. This systematic review aims to understand how game elements are used in the design of simulations in military trauma management training and their reported outcomes. We have designed a search strategy for the purpose of the review. Two researchers will independently assess the identified studies based on the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selection process will be represented using a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram. The search will be repeated and updated as necessary prior to publication of the review. Two reviewers will independently extract and manage the data for each of the articles using a structured data extraction form. Any disagreement that arises between reviewers will be resolved through discussion, and a third review author will be consulted when needed. We are going to conduct a thematic synthesis of the extracted game element descriptions. The results are going to be presented in a diagrammatic or tabular form, alongside a narrative summary. The quality of the studies will be assessed. We implemented and tested the developed search strategy in May 2023. We retrieved 1168 study abstracts, which were reduced to 630 abstracts after deduplication. We have piloted the screening on 20% (126/630) of the identified abstracts in groups of 2 reviewers. Although gamification has the potential to motivate learners in various ways, there is a lack of understanding about specific game elements and how they can inform instructional design in different contexts. Our findings will increase the understanding of how game elements are used in the design of simulations in military trauma management training and, thus, contribute to more effective development of future simulations. DERR1-10.2196/45969.

Review of Live-Virtual-Constructive Simulation Technology

With the improvement of network communication technology, creative computer simulation architectures and today’s cutting-edge hardware, the live-virtual-constructive (LVC) simulation technology gradually matures adequately to synthesize joint heterogeneous systems. Firstly, the development of typical LVC architectures and their key technologies are analysed, such as Advanced Distributed Simulation (ADS), High-Level Architecture (HLA), Test and Train Enabling Architecture (TENA), Joint Simulation Supporting Platform (JoSim) and so force. Then, applications in the field of US and Chinese military are reviewed, as well as cases in air combat training and other scholarly research concept. Finally, a summary of LVC technology is given, and the development trend of military LVC simulation technology is predicted to explore the specific content that needs to be studied.

A Role for Live-Animal Models in Undergraduate Surgical Education During the Cadaver Shortage.

A Role for Live-Animal Models in Undergraduate Surgical Education During the Cadaver Shortage.

Medical Students' Integration of Formative Feedback During Simulation: A Grounded Theory Study.

Formative feedback is critical for trainees' growth and development. However, there is a gap in the professional literature regarding the ways in which formative feedback affects student performance during simulation. This grounded theory study addresses this gap by exploring the ways in which medical students received and integrated ongoing formative feedback throughout a multiday, high-fidelity military medical simulation, Operation Bushmaster. Our research team interviewed 18 fourth-year medical students in order to investigate how they processed formative feedback during the simulation. Guided by the grounded theory tradition of qualitative research, our research team used open coding and axial coding to categorize the data. We then used selective coding to determine the casual relationships between each of the categories that emerged from the data. These relationships determined our grounded theory framework. Four phases emerged from the data and provided a framework to delineate the process in which students received and integrated formative feedback throughout the simulation: (1) ability to self-assess, (2) self-efficacy, (3) leadership and teamwork, and (4) appreciation of feedback for personal and professional growth. The participants first focused on feedback related to their individual performance but then shifted to a teamwork and leadership mindset. Once they adapted this new mindset, they began to intentionally provide feedback to their peers, increasing their team's performance. At the end of the simulation, the participants recognized the benefits of formative feedback and peer feedback for ongoing professional development throughout their careers, signifying a growth mindset. This grounded theory study provided a framework for determining how medical students integrated formative feedback during a high-fidelity, multiday medical simulation. Medical educators can use this framework to intentionally guide their formative feedback in order to maximize student learning during simulation.

Determining the educational impact of virtual patients on trauma team training during a multinational, large-scale civil military simulation exercise.

With asymmetrical conflicts ongoing, many countries have an increasing number of major trauma events but limited capacity to cope with these events. Training for such events comprises primarily of simulations requiring significant resources and that are time-consuming and expensive. Virtual patients are defined as computer-based programs presenting authentic cases support training in trauma management. Assisted learning technologies augment simulated trauma team training and can improve trauma team competencies. The aim was to investigate if virtual patients increased competencies in decision making required and to identify deficiencies in care for the management of trauma patients during a multinational civil military trauma exercise. A prospective educational intervention study with mixed methods, measuring the effects of a novel virtual patient model on trauma teams, was performed. The population consisted of surgeons, anesthesiologists, emergency department physicians, nurses, and paramedics (n = 30) and constituted six trauma teams from eight countries; three trauma teams formed the participating group, and three were allocated as control group. The participating group was exposed to virtual patients before, during, and after the live simulation exercise. Data sources were derived from individual preassessments and postassessments, evaluations made by experts in trauma, and video recordings of performance during the live simulation exercise and analyzed by the thematic analysis method. Using virtual patients contributed to improved individual knowledge about the management of major trauma patients and improved teamwork. Virtual patients as support for reasoning in decision making were directly correlated to level of previous knowledge and experience. Two of the three participating trauma teams showed lower levels of existing knowledge and competence in managing major trauma patients and therefore made more efficient use of the virtual patients. Results demonstrated advantages using virtual patients during a major civil military trauma live simulation exercise and appear to be supportive especially for teams who are not as experienced. Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Learning to Take Cover with Navigation-Based Waypoints via Reinforcement Learning

This paper presents a reinforcement learning model designed to learn how to take cover on geo-specific terrains, an essential behavior component for military training simulations. Training of the models is performed on the Rapid Integration and Development Environment (RIDE) leveraging the Unity ML-Agents framework. This work expands on previous work on raycast-based agents by increasing the number of enemies from one to three. We demonstrate an automated way of generating training and testing data within geo-specific terrains. We show that replacing the action space with a more abstracted, navmesh-based waypoint movement system can increase the generality and success rate of the models while providing similar results to our previous paper's results regarding retraining across terrains. We also comprehensively evaluate the differences between these and the previous models. Finally, we show that incorporating pixels into the model's input can increase performance at the cost of longer training times.