Barco's new projection solution features advanced technology for simulation applications
Barco’s new SIM 5plus projection system is a dedicated solution for training and simulation. Designed with features to enhance the performance of simulation applications, the SIM 5plus lowers maintenance and operation costs.
“Barco designed the SIM 5plus system to meet a number of challenging simulation application demands,” says Steve McCullough, Vice President and General Manager of Barco Simulation. “The advanced technology behind our new system is ideal for both new and existing simulation systems, and upgrading to the SIM 5plus can improve training efficiency.”The SIM 5plus is an unrivalled platform for new system installations and the upgrade of existing simulators, achieving the highest near-to-reality visualization for maritime, driving, flight, gunnery, and ATC training. The SIM 5plus can be installed in the current location of former CRT and older, off-the-shelf non-simulation dedicated projectors as it has an identical throw distance to CRT projectors. A wide range of transversal and vertical lens shift for easy image adjustment, as well as extensive Scheimpflug correction allowing off-axis projection makes the SIM5plus very flexible to install.
Upgrading an existing system with the SIM5plus’s cutting edge technology will increase training efficiency. The SIM 5plus offers Advanced Geometry Distortion WARP 6™: the most advanced geometry distortion technology using proprietary bi-cubic interpolation. WARP 6™ allows fixed-matrix projectors like the SIM 5plus to be used in a wide variety of curved-screen applications, ranging from straightforward cylindrical displays to the most severe distortions. In addition, chromatically matched and highly optimized optical engines guarantee well-matched color gamuts, while DynaColor™ allows the user to digitally set the primary and secondary color coordinates in order to obtain perfect color matching across the system.
Constant Light Output (CLO) is another feature in the SIM 5plus. An integrated, calibrated light meter measures and controls the light output, so new and used lamps can be mixed, meaning not all lamps need to be changed at the same time. Uniform dimming increases dynamic range (30:1), aids in maintaining accurate dark images, and makes the contrast level independent from the dimming level. Using a Constant Contrast Dimmer, the contrast level is independent from the dimming level. Black level and overlap zones don’t change when changing lamp bulbs.
Barco’s xRACU (Remote Alignment and Control Unit) allows Linked DynaColor, which automatically aligns all projectors to a common color triangle. This ensures that all projectors in the entire system have exactly the same primary and secondary color coordinates. The system auto-senses the addition of a new projector to a system and updates the common color triangle as required. The xRACU also allows Linked CLO to monitor and adjust the brightness of all linked projectors to the lowest value. The xRACU can also be used as a fast cross-system remote control. A fast Ethernet connection facilitates central management of several simulators over LAN, either on PC or xRACU.
Dual-point viewing is also possible by adding the Infitec + option to the SIM 5plus and using two projectors, one for each viewpoint. Infitec technology filters the color spectrum of the image in two parts, one for the position of the left and one for the position of the right viewer. Matching filters in the projector and in the glasses ensure the correct information goes through to the corresponding viewer. Barco also offers solutions for night vision simulation training for the SIM 5plus and other Barco projection systems. This technology allows users wearing NVG devices to see bright, properly defined targets and images for true night and dusk training accuracy and realism.
