Independent review on
DART shooting simulator
All images on this page were taken from dartrange.com
Looking at the page of regular customers of the Digimation company, consisting of dozens of police and army departments located throughout America, you involuntarily understand who their main product is aimed at. At the same time, an interesting fact is that the company itself has been on the market for more than 30 years, and first announced itself back in 1992 as a developer of virtual training programs using 3D graphics to model equipment and various processes. Today, the Digimation company, with its main office in Florida, is known far beyond the borders of America, and for many years has been carrying out international deliveries of its training shooting equipment around the world. As you understand, the company is not limited to shooting simulators of firearms, but we will dedicate the review to them. This review will be devoted to the DART and DART MAX training systems, which have the potential of a full-fledged virtual shooting range.
Equipment
Let's start by talking about the fact that this portable DART shooting simulator kit comes in a durable case on wheels, roughly resembling a small travel suitcase in its dimensions. The main element of the virtual shooting range is the DART computer system itself with a built-in high-precision camera designed to capture light laser spots created by the laser at the points of impact on the target environment. It should be noted that this system is truly portable and has small dimensions, allowing it to almost completely fit in the palm of an adult. For ease of installation in front of the projection screen or projection area, a tripod is usually used, which is included in the kit. To work with the software and configure the training process displayed using the projector, also included in the system kit, a standard keyboard and computer mouse are used.
For sound effects, such as gunshots or dialogues of virtual opponents or other participants in training scenarios, a small but powerful speaker is included in the kit. The weapon is a laser model of a pistol from DART. It is necessary to point out one key point that this system is quite expensive and will cost a shooting enthusiast almost $ 11,000. But at the same time, the DART development team honestly states that the cost can be reduced if you use your own projector, as well as any training laser weapon you have. This is clearly a big advantage, since you can use your firearm with a laser cartridge. On the DART simulator website, the author gives preference to training weapons from such well-known brands as Next Level Training, Laser Ammo, DryFireMag and others. On the manufacturer's website, you can also purchase additional equipment in the form of a large projection screen or a special Skiftech vest equipped with sensors that allow you to fully immerse the trainee in the training environment, reacting to hits from virtual opponents.
Operating principleHere everything is as clear as possible and identical to other laser shooting simulators, but for those who read our blog for the first time, we simply have to make a number of explanations. It is necessary to install the DART computer system opposite the projection screen or, as often happens, opposite a white flat matte wall. It is also necessary to install a projector there, which will broadcast the image in the form of a target environment or a training plot. All components, including the keyboard and computer mouse, must be connected to each other with the included wires. After a short calibration procedure, your virtual shooting range is ready for work. At the moment of the shot, at the point of impact on the projection image, regardless of whether it is static or not, a laser spot is created, which is recorded in real time by a high-precision camera. The coordinates of this hit are transmitted to the main element of the DART, its computer, and are displayed on the screen as a hit on the target or virtual enemy. It should be noted that due to its portability, the shooting area can be set up even in a small room, or, for example, a stairwell, which will make the training process as realistic as possible. |
Functional
As for the functional component, the DART kit has a potential similar in capabilities to the Pro target constructor software, allowing you to use both 2D and volumetric targets. The potential of the DART MAX kit is broader and similar to the functionality of the Pro tactical constructor, i.e. it allows you to immerse the student in various training scenarios, such as conflict de-escalation or an active shooter situation. It should be noted that the DART MAX training system uses highly developed artificial intelligence, which allows you to immerse the student in the process of resolving a difficult life situation as realistically as possible, which will be an indispensable experience for future or inexperienced police officers. I would also like to favorably note the highly realistic graphics engine of the DART MAX software, literally erasing the line between the virtual and real worlds.
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