Simulation Weekly News

Military leaders are championing a rapid shift toward virtual modelling and experimentation for future battlespaces, with a senior RAF officer urging accelerated adoption despite ongoing struggles with realism and seamless integration. This approach is vital for adapting to drone warfare, which necessitates rapid training of large numbers of warfighters. Specialized industrial training is also advancing; researchers developed a digital simulation platform for remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operators, improving accuracy in underwater scenarios.
In the consumer and logistics spheres, adoption is progressing as Amazon explores equipping delivery drivers with AI-powered smart glasses for navigation and package scanning. However, this ubiquity brings scrutiny: augmented reality glasses raise privacy alarms due to constant, passive data collection (GPS, cameras) that may outpace existing legal safeguards. Furthermore, accessibility remains a significant hurdle, as a study found that reliance on specific XR hand gestures risks excluding millions of users with limited mobility, necessitating more inclusive design alternatives. Providing historical context to this trend, a rare 1936 mechanical “Spotlight Golf Machine,” an early simulator using a real ball, is expected to fetch £4,000 at auction.
⊲ Image – DALL-E ⊳