As the adoption of simulation grows, so does the need for visual innovation. Andy Symonds, founder of Cave Oy, an innovative company at the forefront of cutting-edge simulation technologies, has over 25 years’ experience in the field. His career has taken him on an evolving journey through the world of simulation – a journey that has also led him to Brompton Technology where we are exploring the potential of LED-based simulation and visualisation environments to offer a more realistic and immersive experience.
Andy points out that the aviation industry is one of the most mature adopters of simulation technology, but its use is already widespread, across a diverse range of sectors from racing and vehicle testing to maritime training and forestry – and this trend continues to grow. He shares examples like cargo ship navigation, naval training using ship bridge simulators, fast-response boats for coast guard operations and helicopter rescues. In Finland, even learner driver programmes have simulator training as part of the licensing process. “Basically anything that is big, expensive, complex to operate or potentially life-threatening,” Andy sums up.
It’s an investment in both safety and profitability, Andy notes, and refers to a recent project for a Middle Eastern maritime academy. The project involved designing a simulator for ‘ship to shore’ crane operators working on massive cargo ships. He explains, “These guys are up to 70 metres in the air, sitting in one of these cranes, and they have to look through the floor and use a joystick to lift the containers. The faster they load and unload, the quicker they can get back out to sea. The simulator helps train the operators to be safer as well as more efficient, so it’s really an investment to speed up operations and be more profitable.”
Simulation also plays a crucial role in the design and engineering of big-ticket products like cars. “Most objects that are substantial or expensive are simulated in the virtual world first before we get to see it as a consumer,” says Andy. As he explains, this approach is not only cheaper (saving on the cost of producing pricey prototypes), but also faster. “It’s the time to market. For example, a road car used to take five to six years from the initial concept pencil drawing to the final product, now they’re probably down to two-and-a-half to three years. So you can really speed up your development cycles by testing in the virtual world.”
LED-Based Simulation Environments
Andy’s company, Cave Oy, specialises in building high-quality simulation and visualisation display systems, enabling users to experience virtual environments that are as close to reality as possible.
“Essentially, we’re trying to simulate the real thing, whatever that real thing might be. You have to trick the brain into thinking you’re in the real deal, so that your inputs are correct and the way you behave is correct.” As Andy points out, this realism also trains behaviour, which is key for developing instinctive responses in emergencies or other high-stakes situations. “If there’s a certain protocol to follow, you behave as you would in the real world if it actually happened. It’s got to be real – so you’re basing your decisions on real data, real reactions, real interactions.”
It’s this potential for greater realism and immersion that brings Andy to the demo facility at Brompton Technology, because of our widely adopted LED processing technologies for recreating reality in LED-based virtual production for film and television.
The demonstration setup includes a professional-level Phoenix racing simulator from Base Performance Simulators, a ROE Visual Ruby 1.5mm LED screen, and our Tessera SX40 4K LED processor. The majority of the audience have only ever seen projection-based environments and the difference strikes immediately.
“The blacks are true black, and you’ve got all the brightness in the world, which you would never achieve with a projection-based display,” Andy states. “This dynamic range gives the driver the ability to place the car more accurately on the track, especially during nighttime with dark tyres in dark conditions.”
Andy is also impressed with the ambient light provided by RGBW LED displays, optimised with our TrueLight technology. For the demo, ROE Visual CB5 RGBW LED panels are placed above and behind the car. As imagery plays out, the panels cast realistic lighting and reflections. “It creates ambient light – like sunlight or sunrise – that affects the car’s cabin,” Andy explains. “It also casts reflections on the dashboard, illuminating the car’s controls and delivering a much more immersive experience than projection systems ever could.”
The Need for Visual Innovation
Andy has seen simulation evolve from a niche tool in civil and military aviation to a widely used technology across industries. It’s becoming a critical aid and de facto requirement – from training pilots to designing cars, and even for making better products.
“The future of simulation is exciting,” Andy says. “We’re seeing it applied in industries that never considered it before. As companies discover its benefits in improving efficiency, safety and training, there will likely be even more use cases for simulation in sectors ranging from healthcare and emergency response to urban planning and logistics.”
The potential applications for simulation and visualisation are huge, and underlying all of it is the need for visual innovation.
Our Tessera software offers a number of features that eliminate visual artefacts and achieve perfect colour accuracy, both of which are critical in recreating reality. A standout feature from the latest Tessera v3.5 release was specifically developed to enhance motion clarity in fast-action content.
Andy adds, “One feature of Brompton’s LED processing that really impressed me is its ability to handle high pixel densities, high resolutions and high refresh rates – all while enabling Dark Time Insertion. This feature gives the human eye time to adjust between frames, reducing issues like double or triple imaging that you often see with projection-based displays.”
“We’re always pushing for more realism, more data and faster technology,” Andy says. “Simulation is only going to become more pervasive, and I believe it will have an even larger impact in the years to come, changing the way we interact with the world.” He concludes, “We’ve only scratched the surface, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”
