The Future of Training Simulator Computers?

The current status of training simulators.

Training simulators have been around for many years and as they have evolved, they have progressively aimed for a close to reality training experience.

The fidelity of the training often means multiple high-performance computers and image generators are required; this means creating challenges around:

·???????Hardware complexity

·???????Noise

·???????Space

·???????Cooling

·???????Cost

The big question is; how do you solve all of these challenges, reduce risk and maintain or even improve reliability.

The solution?.

What was needed was an out of the box thinking exercise and total rethink of what a rack of simulator equipment should be, and how it should be packaged.

There have been historic attempts at 1U Image generators at small form factor products and many other approaches including liquid cooling and even considerations into immersion cooling, but none proved cost effective, easy to manage or really solved complexity, cooling and space issues.

By stepping back and looking at every major electrical component and sub component in a system at a functionality level, we were able to understand the total number of each component actually needed to support the function, electrical, and performance requirements.

We were able to identify the revised connectivity required and significantly reduce the overall materials usage.

We were then able to rationalise and package the components into logical assemblies that would be familiar to simulator builders and operators and create a new concept in simulation computer the “Quadbox”.

What makes the Quadbox different to other image generation computers?

The Quadbox is a 4U Simulator node host comprising of 4 fully independent computer systems, which utilise shared cooling, shared power and shared mechanical housing and mounting.

Each node offers typical ATX motherboard I/O, high-end current generation CPU and a full length dual-slot graphics card (or two single slot cards depending on requirement).

The 4 nodes exist and independently configurable replaceable and upgradable sub-assemblies, allowing for maximum modularity and flexibility in a platform, each Quadbox can be either partially or fully populated.

This degree of modularity allows for individual nodes to be configured for differing applications in simulation. Perhaps you need all 4 nodes to share a common internal hardware synchronisation, or perhaps you require one to be a hot or cold spare, maybe you need a host system, node, a NAS node and other functionality.

The design of the Quadbox allows for the density of population of 1U servers, with the cooling performance of 4U systems and crucially less cabling less infrastructure and less materials than either typically ensuring a lower total cost of ownership, greater reliability, greater component longevity, infield upgrades and technology refreshes and less site real-estate for deployment.

Quadbox is an unapologetic no frill approach to give simulator manufacturers what they need from 21st century computing solutions. The modularity allows for an unprecedented level of application level and customer specific customisation.?

How the Quadbox can support training simulator manufacturers.

The Quadbox exists to solve known and proven challenges experienced by simulator manufacturers, to bring innovation, solutions and benefits to that space.

If you would like to learn more about simulation, Image Generator System’s or the Quadbox computer itself, visit https://captec-group.com/quadbox/ ?