ERDC Ship/Tow Simulator
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' only marine ship/tow simulator, located at the U.S.
Description
Army Engineer Research and Development Center, provides engineers, licensed pilots,
and others studying navigability in Federal channels with the ability to design and evaluate
proposed modifications for improvements to commercial navigation. This computerized
simulator of navigational conditions uses real-time piloted evaluations, meaning that the
events require the same amount of time on the simulator as they do in real life. Realistic
sights, sounds, and conditions for maneuvering ships and tows help make the pilots more
at ease and comfortable as if they are in their actual surroundings. The simulator features
two ship-bridge mockups specifically developed for evaluating navigation channel designs,
modifications, and safety issues. It can simulate ports, harbors, inland waterways, and any
other maritime environment. The simulations on the two ship-bridge mockups can be
conducted independently or can be integrated. In an integrated simulation, the pilots
controlling the two simulators interact with each other via radio and through the visual
scene. Models accurately portray currents, wind and wave conditions, shallow-water
effects, bank forces, ship handling, ship-to-ship interaction (in a meeting and passing or
overtaking and passing situation), fender forces, anchor forces, and tug assistance.
The ERDC Ship/Tow Simulator is an important tool in the analysis or design of harbors or
Capabilities
channels or for the study of safety issues in these surroundings. It allows for the ERDC
Engineer, the District personnel, and the licensed pilots from the study area to bring their
collective knowledge together to design, evaluate, propose, and/or solve questions about
navigability in Federal channels. As tests are completed, the results from each one are
processed with "off the shelf" programs and tools created in-house. These processed
results are analyzed and put in a final report. This report might contain design
comparisons, new design evaluations, channel realignment recommendations, modification
recommendations to existing or proposed channel configurations, or any other type of
information that the customer might need.
The ERDC Ship/Tow Simulator uses five projectors on a cylindrical screen to provide a
Supporting Technology
220-degree field of view for the visual scene. The viewing angle is pilot-controlled and
can be rotated 360 degrees horizontally and 180 degrees vertically. Changing the viewing
angle accomplishes the same effect as turning one's head and/or tilting it in real life.
High-performance graphic workstations are used to generate the visual scene.
Radar and Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) displays are also on
the simulator. The radar is comparable to what is found onboard a typical ship. The
simulator also furnishes pilots with a precision navigation display showing rudder
command and position, engine command and speed, absolute ship speed, lateral ship
velocity for bow and stern, wind magnitude and direction, and elapsed time for the test
exercise.
The heart of the marine simulator is the Virtual Ship model, a hydrodynamic model made
by Computer Sciences Corporation Advanced Marine Training Technologies, and used to
calculate ship response to the variety of forces that can be exerted upon a vessel. The
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
www.erdc.usace.army.mil
Previous Page
