NATO Unveils New Simulation System Using Gesture Recognition Technology

NATO unveiled today their new, first-of-kind virtual training simulation, for improving operational capability of sailors, marines, and soldiers while running on Microsoft's Kinect gesture recognition technology.

The new series of simulations, aptly named 'MIOmoves' (Maritime Interdiction Operational moves), was produced by NATO partners Engineering & Computer Simulations, Inc (ECS) and Caspian Learning as part of a NATO-led operational simulation project. MIOmoves is one of NATO's flagship training simulations for 2013, and showcases the advanced training capabilities currently being utilised at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre in Greece.

The series of simulations, the first of which is the 'MIOmoves: Crew Search' simulation, combines the procedures and best practices of recent interdiction operations with the latest advances in gaming technology to deliver cost-effective, fully immersive operational training scenarios that enhance the capabilities of soldiers.  

The MIOmoves: Crew Search simulation allows the player to assume the role of a boarding soldier in a Maritime Interdiction Operation investigating the possibility of illegal activity on a container vessel. MIOmoves uses Microsoft's Kinect gesture recognition interface to allow players to interact with the scenario by making hand and arm gestures.  

The immediate benefit of the new simulation is that the intuitive controls allow the player to move cameras, navigate the ship, search crew members and perform other actions during the simulated scenario as if they were actually performing the actions in real life. The added intuitive nature of the controls provides the player with a more realistic and immersive training experience.

The simulation is split into three short scenarios and players' performance - including the time it takes them to conduct the operation and their final score - are recorded and displayed for immediate feedback at the end of the scenario.

Chris Brannigan , CEO of Caspian Learning, said, "it is a fantastic piece of operational training that has received positive feedback from all stakeholders," and "that using the Kinect interface for controls seems so much like second nature, it is a wonder the system isn't in widespread use already.”

ECS Vice President and Chief Technologist Matt Spruill, stated, "I believe this is a smart use of technology to further advance the training platform that ECS and Caspian Learning are developing for NATO ACT."