A simulator first designed for ground combat troops will now give cyber operators the chance to thwart imagined network attacks.
This latest application of virtual reality comes from Northrop Grumman [NOC], which showcased the cyber scenario in its Virtual Immersive Portable Environment (VIPE) Holodeck at its annual Tech Expo this week.
The company has been developing virtual reality simulation for the past two and a half years, but it introduced the 360-degree view Holodeck last year. The hexagonal structure is the size of a small room and projects lifelike images on each wall. As the user standing in the middle steps forward, the scene shifts to simulate walking through an environment. The Holodeck’s first iteration includes a retrofitted M4 rifle that a solider-in-training can use in situations similar to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The original idea was to bring the principles behind flight simulation to ground troops, a company spokesperson said. Now in place of combat scenes, the Holodeck displays server racks and network pipes down to the detail of individual plugs.
Instead of insurgents, “you could be shooting malware as it comes through the network,” the spokesperson said.
A computer or a physical server rack can be added to the center of the Holodeck to assist cyber operators as they zoom in on virtual servers or virtually travel between data centers projected on the walls. The intent is to help cyber mission specialists move away from just desktops, keyboards and mice as their only tools.
The Holodeck’s cyber application, however, extends beyond training, the spokesperson said. The cyber scenarios can allow senior managers and other decision makers to visualize their IT resources and understand the health of their networks. The simulator can also assist in designing the architecture for cyber operations. Eventually, the Holodeck may be used for big data and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms.
The Holodeck appears expensive, but its portable design and use of commercial-off-the-shelf equipment keep the costs “extremely low,” the spokesperson said.
“It’s Amazon.com to replace a projector,” he said.
Northrop Grumman would not comment on specific customers for any of the Holodeck’s multiple uses, but a spokesperson shared that the Fairfax County, Va. police department is interested in using it for law enforcement officer training and active shooter scenarios.
“They really want something that stresses their people,” he said.
A video of the Holodeck used in a military application can be found here.