Animated Sims Train ATV “Jules Verne” Crew

Days before the launch of the first ATV ‘Jules Verne‘ into orbit, ParallelGraphics announced that its software had been selected for the spacecraft crew and astronauts training of the ATV. The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is a fleet of 20 ton space transport vehicles used to bring fresh food, clothes, water, fuel, experiments, and oxygen to the International Space Station (ISS). With complex operational procedures, the challenge was to keep the astronauts’ skills and knowledge at a high level up to 1 year after receiving the initial training. Cortona3D RapidLearning software from ParallelGraphics was used by astronaut instructors to create animated 3D simulations showing step by step procedures with new levels of detail and interactivity. The software teaches astronauts complex tasks prior to manipulating real equipment and enables them to practice these procedures learned at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), on their laptops over and over again, even on orbit.



Cortona3D RapidLearning is a powerful authoring tool for building 3D-powered Computer Based Training (CBT) and requires no special programming expertise. RapidLearning guides trainers through the production process, prompting them to illustrate each step of the training scenario with an easily created 3D animation to build a complete RapidLearning procedure / lesson. The output is an animated interactive 3D training simulation that contains several training modes (demo, study, and exam) and is usable as a standalone application or integrated in any SCORM-compliant Learning Management Systems (LMS)—Dublin, Ireland