Simulators - ADA | aurobindonayak

Background to the Project & LCA Program

India’s foray into the world defence stage started when they decided to build their own fighter craft. This led to the indigenous LCA program. Along with the program came the unique requirements to develop unique and ubiquitous digital technologies to be able to support the program at multiple levels. Towards pilot training, building up a trained tech force, trained ground support staff and technicians and more.

Besides developing in-house tech, ADA started partnering with various organizations to be able to add more thinking heads to be able to speeden up the program. Towards this they signed an MOU with NID R&D center Bangalore to design and develop a series of simulators based on proprietary ASMS technology.

About ASMS and capabilities

The Aircraft System Maintenance Simulator (ASMS) is a computer-based Integrated Logistics Support System (ILSS) developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency for the Indian aerospace sector. Its primary importance lies in providing highly realistic, immersive, and risk-free training for maintenance personnel working on complex platforms like the LCA Tejas.

Highlights

High-Fidelity Simulation: ASMS reproduces the aircraft's cockpit panels, indicators, and test equipment interfaces with high accuracy, providing users with a real-world learning experience.
Interactive Training Scenarios: Maintainers can practice fault diagnosis, troubleshooting, and repair procedures virtually, reinforcing learning without risking actual hardware or flight safety.
Modular and Scalable: The platform is designed for flexibility, supporting add-ons, varying maintenance tasks, and new aircraft systems, enabling ongoing relevance as aircraft evolve.
Process Standardization: By embedding SOPs and maintenance checklists into the digital environment, ASMS ensures trainees learn best practices that translate directly to the field.
Cost and Safety Efficiency: Reduces the need for hands-on training with expensive aircraft, minimizes equipment wear, and allows training repetition and error-correction in a safe environment.

Impact

Enhanced Operational Readiness: Maintainers trained on ASMS achieve high proficiency quickly, reducing errors and downtime during actual aircraft servicing.
Knowledge Transfer and Skill Retention: Simulation-based approaches boost confidence and retention, essential for the demanding environments faced by military aviation technicians.
Support for Indigenous Aerospace Development: ASMS represents a move toward self-reliance in advanced aerospace training infrastructure, aligning with national initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Foundation for Future Digital Trainers: The success of ASMS paved the way for the introduction of more sophisticated, digitally-enabled maintenance simulators across India’s aerospace and defense ecosystem.

Design Brief

Leverage locally available technology
Design for local level manufacturing and assembly
Build with locally available materials
Assembly and maintenance should be a no-brainer
Should survive high performance environments and tamperproof build as far as possible
Minimize or avoid transportation and shipment costs
While Ergonomics is important, should be designed for training and not comfort

Challenges faced

Confidentiality of the project resulted in no sharing of documents, drawings, specs etc
Since the fighter craft was a prototype one cannot carry any tool; paper, pencil, measuring tapes to sketch, measure or dimension the fighter-craft's cockpit.
Working with B level scientists, Pilots who have no clue on design or overall user experience
Working with physical copies of the technology and loads of physical folder manuals.

01

Cockpit Procedure Trainer

Touch sensitive simulator for practicing Interactive cockpit drills. The products was showcased in the International Aero India Show, Bangalore 2003.

02

I-Manual Browser

Touch sensitive simulator electronic manual with hyperlinks and dynamic simulation features.

03

Tutoring Simulator

Dual Display Simulator provides dynamic projection to Trainees and tutoring assistance to the instructors.

Background to the Project & LCA Program

About ASMS and capabilities

Highlights

High-Fidelity Simulation: ASMS reproduces the aircraft's cockpit panels, indicators, and test equipment interfaces with high accuracy, providing users with a real-world learning experience.

Interactive Training Scenarios: Maintainers can practice fault diagnosis, troubleshooting, and repair procedures virtually, reinforcing learning without risking actual hardware or flight safety.

Modular and Scalable: The platform is designed for flexibility, supporting add-ons, varying maintenance tasks, and new aircraft systems, enabling ongoing relevance as aircraft evolve.

Process Standardization: By embedding SOPs and maintenance checklists into the digital environment, ASMS ensures trainees learn best practices that translate directly to the field.

Cost and Safety Efficiency: Reduces the need for hands-on training with expensive aircraft, minimizes equipment wear, and allows training repetition and error-correction in a safe environment.

Impact

Enhanced Operational Readiness: Maintainers trained on ASMS achieve high proficiency quickly, reducing errors and downtime during actual aircraft servicing.

Knowledge Transfer and Skill Retention: Simulation-based approaches boost confidence and retention, essential for the demanding environments faced by military aviation technicians.

Support for Indigenous Aerospace Development: ASMS represents a move toward self-reliance in advanced aerospace training infrastructure, aligning with national initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Foundation for Future Digital Trainers: The success of ASMS paved the way for the introduction of more sophisticated, digitally-enabled maintenance simulators across India’s aerospace and defense ecosystem.

Design Brief

Challenges faced

01

Cockpit Procedure Trainer

02

I-Manual Browser

03

Tutoring Simulator