Project deliverable
- 2 large training pods.
- 1 Lecture room.
- Large 4 station control room.
- Indoor training area
Merseyside FRS commissioned Piranha Audio Visual to build their new command training suite as part of a multimillion pound plan to build one of the most advanced training centres in the UK.
The suite needed to be technically advanced but really easy to use. The service also wanted absolute flexibility. Each desk needed to be able to route its computer simulation, audio and control signals to any of the 4 rooms within the facility and any of the training room camera feeds be displayed on any other projector or TV screen within the space. During exercises the candidate may move from one room to another and their USB simulation controller needed to work in whichever room.
All these requests made for an extremely complicated design but the user experience is very straightforward. A large touch screen control panel includes preset memories for the different assessment types that set the whole suite up at the press of just one button. Staff literally boot the computer and press the button according to the days assessment and that’s it, they’re good to go.
Each of the training pods has a large, curved projection screen measuring 4m wide by 2.25m tall powered by an 8000 lumens high definition Epson projector. Person shown to provide scale.
A TV screen allows additional information to be shown to the candidate. A surround sound system immerses the candidate in the sound track.
A camera and microphone allow the recording of the candidate in full high definition.
The control room accommodates 4 stations.
Specialist desks house the simulation PC’s and large displays show CCTV images from around the suite.
Operators wear headsets to hear and talk to the candidate.
Control touch screens allow simple set up of the exercise.
The lecture room includes a projection screen powered by another 8000 lumens Epson projector.
A side screen allows for addition video feeds into the room.
Images from around the suite can be routed to the projection screens allowing senior staff members to review a candidate.
Each of the control room stations is provided with an easy to use recorder that records to SD memory cards. A headphone amplifier allows easy individual adjustment of the volume of up to 4 headsets.
A red LED strip light illuminates when the microphones are live.
A connection panel at the bottom is where headsets, headphones and a laptop can be plugged into.
In addition to the above, the suite also provides the following functionality:
- 2 Simultaneous assessments.
- 1 Multi-sector assessment by linking software simulations together.
- Link to Command Vehicle.
- Curved projection screens sized to match 120 degrees peripheral vision.
- Fully matrixed system architecture: Any computer or camera image can be routed to any display or projector.
- Video injects into each pod.
- Laptop inputs in each pod allowing the room to be used for meetings.
- Every exercise recorded using simple to operate video recorders.
- Touch control screens on each desk in control room and in all rooms.
- Master Touch panel in control room with all controls and manual overrides.
- Candidate navigation of simulation in each pod.
- Full high definition imaging throughout (1920 x 1080).
- XVR and Fire Studio compatible.
- Custom desks in the control room.
- 2x Quad view multi-view / multi-window video processors with customisable layout options.