Latest news with #BITE
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Soldiers using immersive room to train for war
Military personnel have been using an immersive room that replicates a front line war scenario. "Similar to escape rooms without the riddles", the Babcock Immersive Training Experience (BITE), has been used at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Filton, Bristol and Warminster, Wiltshire. BITE shakes, smells and can smoke in an effort to replicate what it feels like to be on the front line in a war situation, and may one day be used for further military training. Jim Nagle, warrant officer (WO), said: "I think this is as close as you are going to get to the real thing." More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Babcock International, defence firm based in Bristol, created BITE as a way to help soldiers and commanders be battle-ready. Mikaela Green, training capability director at Babcock, said it aims to ensure "operational readiness". "The ability to practise and sustain your knowledge in an environment that is as close to operational realism as possible is critical," she added. She said they were aiming to close the gap between classroom education and real life saying it works military personnel's "muscle memory". "We've created the opportunity to have full immersion." A Babcock spokesperson added it was "similar to escape rooms without the riddles". BITE also has visual and biometric feeds that are monitored from a control room, meaning personnel can review their actions and learn. Military bosses based in the Defence Equipment and Support part of the MoD said they are always looking for new and emerging technologies. A spokesperson said: "The benefit of experiencing the BITE means that our teams can see and experience first-hand what is out there and available for use." WO Nagle recently tried the room at MoD Filton Abbey Wood and said it was a "sensory overload". "The indirect fire, all the things getting fed into you, the information from the drones, tracking where our troops are and where the enemies troops are... there was a lot going on. "You've got smoke being injected in, you've got noise and vibrations, as well as the simulated indirect fire attack," he said. Commanders were tested on their decision-making capabilities while experiencing "as close to front line war as possible", he added. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Robots could be used to support soldiers in combat 100-year-old commando inspires the next generation What are Bristol's links with UK's biggest warship? Exhibition shows impact of ongoing war in Ukraine Babcock International
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Soldiers using immersive room to train for war
Military personnel have been using an immersive room that replicates a front line war scenario. "Similar to escape rooms without the riddles", the Babcock Immersive Training Experience (BITE), has been used at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Filton, Bristol and Warminster, Wiltshire. BITE shakes, smells and can smoke in an effort to replicate what it feels like to be on the front line in a war situation, and may one day be used for further military training. Jim Nagle, warrant officer (WO), said: "I think this is as close as you are going to get to the real thing." More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Babcock International, defence firm based in Bristol, created BITE as a way to help soldiers and commanders be battle-ready. Mikaela Green, training capability director at Babcock, said it aims to ensure "operational readiness". "The ability to practise and sustain your knowledge in an environment that is as close to operational realism as possible is critical," she added. She said they were aiming to close the gap between classroom education and real life saying it works military personnel's "muscle memory". "We've created the opportunity to have full immersion." A Babcock spokesperson added it was "similar to escape rooms without the riddles". BITE also has visual and biometric feeds that are monitored from a control room, meaning personnel can review their actions and learn. Military bosses based in the Defence Equipment and Support part of the MoD said they are always looking for new and emerging technologies. A spokesperson said: "The benefit of experiencing the BITE means that our teams can see and experience first-hand what is out there and available for use." WO Nagle recently tried the room at MoD Filton Abbey Wood and said it was a "sensory overload". "The indirect fire, all the things getting fed into you, the information from the drones, tracking where our troops are and where the enemies troops are... there was a lot going on. "You've got smoke being injected in, you've got noise and vibrations, as well as the simulated indirect fire attack," he said. Commanders were tested on their decision-making capabilities while experiencing "as close to front line war as possible", he added. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Robots could be used to support soldiers in combat 100-year-old commando inspires the next generation What are Bristol's links with UK's biggest warship? Exhibition shows impact of ongoing war in Ukraine Babcock International
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
MoD soldiers using immersive room to train for war
Military personnel have been using an immersive room that replicates a front line war scenario. "Similar to escape rooms without the riddles", the Babcock Immersive Training Experience (BITE), has been used at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Filton, Bristol and Warminster, shakes, smells and can smoke in an effort to replicate what it feels like to be on the front line in a war situation, and may one day be used for further military Nagle, warrant officer (WO), said: "I think this is as close as you are going to get to the real thing." Babcock International, defence firm based in Bristol, created BITE as a way to help soldiers and commanders be battle-ready. Mikaela Green, training capability director at Babcock, said it aims to ensure "operational readiness"."The ability to practise and sustain your knowledge in an environment that is as close to operational realism as possible is critical," she added. She said they were aiming to close the gap between classroom education and real life saying it works military personnel's "muscle memory". "We've created the opportunity to have full immersion."A Babcock spokesperson added it was "similar to escape rooms without the riddles".BITE also has visual and biometric feeds that are monitored from a control room, meaning personnel can review their actions and learn. Military bosses based in the Defence Equipment and Support part of the MoD said they are always looking for new and emerging technologies. A spokesperson said: "The benefit of experiencing the BITE means that our teams can see and experience first-hand what is out there and available for use." WO Nagle recently tried the room at MoD Filton Abbey Wood and said it was a "sensory overload"."The indirect fire, all the things getting fed into you, the information from the drones, tracking where our troops are and where the enemies troops are... there was a lot going on."You've got smoke being injected in, you've got noise and vibrations, as well as the simulated indirect fire attack," he were tested on their decision-making capabilities while experiencing "as close to front line war as possible", he added.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Pitt-Johnstown students showcase research during annual SPACE event
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown students from a variety of disciplines came together Wednesday to share senior projects, creative works, independent study findings and more as part of the annual Symposium for the Promotion of Academic and Creative Enquiry. 'It's like the Super Bowl of research for UPJ,' undergraduate research coordinator Matthew Tracey said. The chemistry professor organizes the annual SPACE event that this year had 80 presentations with between one and five students at each display. The works ranged from food waste solutions and an auto cable wrapper to ways to increase polio vaccinations, a tick repellent, the boundaries of free speech, Pitt-Johnstown's watershed and more. 'This is the culmination of a year of research for some of these students,' Tracey said. That included juniors Sara Bowers and Natalie Lippincott, who presented on their tick repellent BITE (binding to increase tick evasion.) The pair of biology majors, who minor in chemistry, worked with several others to develop and study the concept, including Tracey and associate professor of biology Jill Henning. BITE uses a novel approach to repelling blacklegged ticks – known as deer ticks – by covering the carbon dioxide a person expels through their skin with a hemoglobin agent, Lippincott said. In their tests, the ticks were significantly dispelled using the product, which utilizes aloe vera as a vehicle. 'It's wonderful,' professor Massasati Ahmad Saleh said after talking to the undergraduates. He noted that UPJ has a sizeable amount of wild acreage on campus and students are often not advised to wander in due to tick bite concern. This project could alleviate those worries, he said. Bowers said she's glad to be part of a project that could have an important impact on the local area. Pryce Donovan and his teammates – Ethan Koontz, Spencer Pfarr, Alexzander Toto and Kyle Weiser – were also interested in improving the region with their designs for expanding the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Somerset County. The group of senior civil engineers proposed adding a theater, museum, overlook tower and infinity pool to the Sept. 11, 2001, crash site of United Flight 93. 'It kind of just snowballed after a visit,' Donovan said. The engineering students have worked with the National Park Service to develop their ideas and noted their appreciation for the collaboration on the project. Donovan said the work was well-received at SPACE. Tracey said the symposium isn't solely for students to show off their hard work. It's also a fantastic opportunity to introduce other undergraduates to the program and possibly inspire them to get involved, he said. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual gathering was a sizeable event and is growing again. Tracey said the 80 presentations were nearly too many to fit in Heritage Hall in the Living and Learning Center on campus. His goal for next year is to have 100 displays and move to a larger venue.
