SimLabs_III_Q&A_Set_3_-_12_06_2016.pdf

Technical Services for Aerospace Modeling and Simulation (SimLabs) III

NNA17568278R

Question & Answer Set 3

December 6, 2016

Questions and answers posted after issuance of the draft RFP and prior to issuance of the final RFP are for guidance only. The final RFP will supersede and replace the draft RFP and all related documentation, including industry day communications and these questions and answers.

ATC LAB

1. What is the name of the controller station software?

Multi‐Aircraft Control Simulation (MACS) is an Air Traffic Management (ATM) target generator and controller/pseudo‐pilot simulation environment developed and maintained at Ames by a group outside of SimLabs.

2. Are pseudo‐pilots obtained under the contract? Who are they?

Pseudo‐pilots are obtained under the SimLabs contract. Typically, they are retired commercial pilots, retired controllers, or current pilots with a lot of experience.

3. Will the Government provide a listing of software/tools?

We are developing a list of software/tools that are developed and/or maintained at SimLabs that will be included in the final RFP.

CREW VEHICLE SYSTEMS RESEARCH FACILITY (CVSRF)

4. Do you work with multiple projects at once?

That depends on the resources required for the particular projects. We have dedicated equipment assigned to each simulator/lab that needs to be scheduled to avoid any potential conflict. The dedicated equipment is scheduled serially but each simulator or lab [B747‐400, Advanced Concept Flight Simulator (ACFS), ATC Lab] can be operated in parallel. Also non‐ real‐time development can be done in parallel without causing conflict.

5. Is SMART NAS planning and effort affecting the contract in any way?

No.

6. Water landing?

We have not simulated any water landing.

7. How long does running an experiment take?

The typical progression in the development of an experiment starts with the researcher requesting particular dates on the calendar, usually about a year in advance. Then depending on the complexity of the experiment, requirements are collected and negotiated

Q&A Set 3

December 6, 2016 about 6‐8 months in advance. Development then starts with integration events and interval testing scheduled leading up to the actual experiment. Typical experiment data collection ranges from 1 to 4 weeks in duration.

8. How is the CVSRF facility connected?

The facility is connected to other facilities via High‐Level Architecture (HLA) protocol. Data

Distribution Service (DDS) protocol is also being developed as an additional capability.

9. Do you do physiometric recording?

Yes, we do collect physiometric data. Researchers provide their own physiometric recording devices that can either record as a standalone or time‐sync with the simulator’s data.

10. Is there a set maintenance schedule?

There are SimLabs maintenance procedures that detail simulator maintenance requirements.

A representative maintenance procedure will be included in the final RFP. The contractor is responsible for simulator preventive and corrective maintenance work, as specified in the

SOW.

FUTUREFLIGHT CENTRAL (FFC)

11. How many airports can the FFC display? How often do you get requests for new airports?

Ten airport databases have been developed for FFC ‐ SFO, LAX, DFW, ORD, CLT, KSC, LAS, MSP, IVP (Ivanpah), and NUQ (Moffett Field). There are several versions of LAX, DFW, and

ORD with different airport configurations. FFC’s new image generator currently only displays

CLT and LAX. We can’t predict when we will get new requests; it depends on the researcher’s requirements.

12. How long are the projectors supposed to last?

The projectors, which were installed early 2016, are expected to last up to 20,000 hours. At current rates of usage, the projectors may be replaced to improve performance before they need to be replaced for maintenance reasons.

13. What is the biggest challenge to smooth sim operations?

FFC has many component pieces that must all function together with a high degree of reliability to produce acceptable simulations. Stress‐testing the integrated components before full‐up operations has proven problematic. Testing and managing software configurations when changes are being made on multiple components at the same time

(sometimes including changes made to customer‐supplied components which SimLabs does not control) has also been problematic.

14. How long do sims run?

It varies by the research objective. Experiments can last from several days to several weeks.

Individual simulation runs generally last 45‐60 minutes but occasionally up to 3 hours.

15. How many personnel work in this facility?

Personnel come from the pool of personnel supporting SimLabs. The number depends on the current usage of the facility.

16. Do you use a gaming engine?

No. However, FFC can be part of a distributed simulation using in‐house developed HLA protocol.

17. Can you have multiple customers at one time?

The facility could support multiple customers at different stages of development but only runs one experiment at a time.

18. Does the Government or contractor do software development?

The Government currently does 3‐D database development, and customers/researchers sometimes provide controller tools and automation for integration into FFC. Facility‐specific software developed and/or maintained by the contractor includes:

• Air Traffic Generator (ATG) target generator and controller/pseudo‐pilot simulation environment

• An in‐house developed Reconfigurable Image Generator (RiG) and video multiplexing system

• The SimPhonics communications system

• 2‐D database development

• Auxiliary controller displays (BRITE, ASDE‐X, etc.)

• Scenario, airport ground routes, and airspace development

• Software that controls the facility configuration

• HLA interface software connecting components within FFC, and between FFC and other simulation facilities

VERTICAL MOTION SIMULATOR (VMS)

19. Do you have glass displays or touch screens?

The VMS currently has glass displays.

20. How many cabs do you have?

Currently, five (5): Transportation, Fighter, Rotorcraft, Legacy Shuttle, and a Stand‐up Configuration.

21. What is the weight of the cabs?

Approximately 12,000 ‐15,000 pounds.

22. How unique is this facility?

One of a kind. To the best of our knowledge, this flight simulator has the largest motion envelope in the world.

23. What are the maintenance requirements? Who completes the work?

There are SimLabs maintenance procedures that detail simulator maintenance requirements.

A representative maintenance procedure will be included in the final RFP. The contractor is responsible for simulator preventive and corrective maintenance work, as specified in the

SOW.

24. Do you expect to support future manned NASA systems?

VMS has supported NASA manned space programs in the past and would hope to do so in the future.

25. What is the sim schedule like?

Currently, we run about six (6) experiments a year. Experiments typically run 1 week ‐ 2 months. Prep can take as long as two (2) years.

SHOP

26. Is the shop solely for the VMS?

The shop supports all SimLabs facilities. Occasionally other Ames organizations request shop support and are supported on a reimbursable basis, time‐permitting.

27. What is the purpose of having sheet metal functionality?

Some examples include: building, retrofitting, preparing, and modifying cabs for experiments; adapting displays; and fabricating lab infrastructure.