In the frame of Horizon Europe project SALTO, CNES has experimented the use virtual reality technology for the design, communication and dissemination of the CONOPS (i.e CONcept of OPerationS).
Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that allows a 3D computer model of an environment with a scene and fixed or animated objects that appear real, giving the user the experience of an immersion in the scene, as if they were a character in that scene. This scene is perceived through a simple screen or a 3D displays headset. The user can position himself anywhere in this scene and see what an observer would actually see at that location.
A Concept of Operations (CONOPS) is a document that describes how a system will be implemented to perform a set of functions and achieve a desired result. For launch systems, the CONOPS describes the launcher assembly phases, pre-launch preparation operations and activities leading up to lift-off and, for reusable launchers, recovery.
Objectives
To describe a scene in which operations are taking place, text and images will never replace a visual representation of the scene in real life, as virtual reality now makes possible.
Texts and images always leave a part of interpretation which means that two people who have read the same document will not have exactly the same perception of what is described. Visualizing operations as they will be carried out in the real environment ensures that everyone shares the same understanding. Based on these observations, it was proposed to use a virtual reality tool to design and share CONOPS.
Several objectives were targeted:
• Help to design and validate the CONOPS.
• Support for the design and validation of CONOPS through a loop: CONOPS design -> VR implementation of VR -> CONOPS Evaluation -> CONOPS improvement. The evaluation benefits from the advantages offered by the virtual reality model: visualization of objects in real size, reproduction of real kinematics, making it possible to appreciate volumes, durations, personnel required, synchronization and sequencing of tasks, etc…
• Make a tool to share the 3D CONOPS in VR.
• Virtual Reality tools generally require powerful hardware, preventing access to people who do not have such equipment. The VR tool should provide no technical obstacle to everyone being able to access it, make it easy to share CONOPS.
• Reduce individual interpretations.
• Make quicker/easier to understand the CONOPS.
• Improve communication inside Project teams and towards external stakeholders.
3D VR CONOPS development
The 3D Virtual Reality CONOPS has been produced using a platform already developed by the CNES. This platform allows to produce the 3D model CONOPS in virtual reality and to generate the software to display it. This software is easy to use, running on any standard PC without the need to install it.
The 3D Virtual Reality CONOPS model was created in parallel with the Project development by importing Themis launch system objects from the DMU (Digital MockUp) and from the building plans of Esrange LC-3 site, allowing to have the exact image of the objects. Then the animations were created from the CONOPS (in paper form). Once produced the 3D Virtual Reality CONOPS was distributed to the teams in order to be visualized, validated and improved. Then loop back.
What was the results?
3D Virtual reality model, thanks to a very realistic representation, reduces interpretation and focuses attention on the substance. The ease of access to the 3D virtual reality CONOPS contributes to better dissemination within teams but also toward external stakeholders. It saves time (15 minutes of visualization is enough to have the complete course of the launch campaign) compared to reading a document. Having a 3D virtual reality CONOPS at each significant phase of the project consolidates the transition to the next step.
Finally, 3D Virtual reality CONOPS is also a superb communication medium, while no real images are available, the images and videos can be obtained from 3D CONOPS.
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