It can now be revealed that VIOSO has ushered in a sea change in maritime research and training at the Seven Oceans Simulator Centre (SOSc) in the Netherlands, where its advanced projection technology is helping to recreate the high seas in immersive, lifelike detail.
Located at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN), one of the world’s leading institutes for hydrodynamic and nautical research, VIOSO says the SOSc is designed to be the most realistic simulator centre for maritime operations in the world. Capable of realistic simulation of the behaviour of vessels, as well as other interactions between maritime structures, the environment and people, it was officially opened by King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands late last year.
The SOSc facility comprises two simulators – the Large Motion Simulator (LMS) and Full Mission Bridge (FMB) – and several smaller multipurpose solutions, all of which can simulate the full range of maritime operations, from simple ship handling to high-risk, multi-player offshore operations.
VIOSO says its automatic calibration and alignment technology was instrumental in realising the SOSc’s immersive visual environments, including the LMS’s 16m-diameter spherical dome and the FMB’s 14m-wide cylindrical display.
In close partnership with German system integrator VISCON, VIOSO delivered precision blending and warping solutions, ensuring image alignment across the facility’s complex projection surfaces. The Large Motion Simulator boasts a six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform and immersive 360° projection dome, and the Full Mission Bridge offers forward or backward views on a 240° × 42° cylindrical screen comprising two 6m-diameter domes.
To calibrate and align the Large Motion Simulator and Full Mission Bridge simulators, VISCON took advantage of VIOSO’s specialist warping and blending software for simulation applications, VIOSO 6 SIM (formerly Anyblend), which was integrated directly into the MARIN simulation software.
The use of VIOSO 6 SIM, which supports a large number of projectors, cameras and image generators, was designed to offer the integrator control over the complex multi-projection set-ups: five cameras and 30 channels for the LMS dome and a total of 13 cameras and 22 channels (1 + 6 + 6 cameras/10 + 6 + 6 channels) for the FMB complex.
In addition to functioning as standalone solutions, the two flagship simulators, along with the SOSc’s other smaller simulators, can be interconnected to replicate scenarios involving multiple ships navigating challenging sea conditions.
Sergey Kovyryalov, director of VIOSO Simulation, said: “We are proud to have been part of the Seven Oceans Simulator centre – a truly pioneering project that redefines what is possible in the field of maritime simulation. By deploying our one-of-a-kind calibration solution for the centre’s unique projection systems, VISCON contributed to creating environments that are not just visually stunning but also transformative for training and research. The final result is a testament to what can be achieved through close collaboration between simulation industry leaders.”
