14 DAY TRIAL // Thanks to Lockheed Martin, the Microsoft Simulation Platform will be used for warfighter training by organizations around the world, in the future. The Redmond company expanded on an existing alliance with Lockheed Martin over Microsoft ESP, a move which will permit the evolution of ESP’s current capabilities. Specifically, Lockheed Martin is committed to creating a new suite of ESP-based solutions designed to take visual simulation beyond its current limitations associated with flight training, in order to permit ground and civil agency applications to leverage the technology for training.
It was at the end of 2007 that Microsoft introduced its Simulation Platform. Built on top of the Flight Simulator technology, Microsoft ESP is essentially a sophisticated simulation designed to mimic real life environments. Lockheed Martin was among the first companies to jump on board with Microsoft in terms of ESP derived projects, and now it has licensed the intellectual property rights to use and built on top of the technology from Microsoft.
“The training needs of our military and civil government customers continue to expand,” noted Chester Kennedy, vice president of Engineering at Lockheed Martin’s Simulation, Training & Support business unit. “Seeking out and developing new innovative solutions such as this one based on the proven Microsoft ESP technology allows Lockheed Martin to provide our customers with new and tailored training systems more quickly and cost efficiently.”
In the context of the existing Microsoft/Lockheed Martin Strategic Alliance, the new Microsoft ESP IP licensing agreement comes to allow new information technology services and products to be offered to customers worldwide. The Redmond company stressed yet again that it delivered another example, opening up its intellectual property to the industry through IP licensing. Neither Microsoft nor Lockheed Martin made public the financial details of their IP deal.
“Solutions built on Microsoft ESP can engage users in immersive experiences with very realistic environments, making them ideal tools for training, evaluating and preparing personnel for optimal performance in the real world,” added Chris Cortez, general manager of Strategic Programs at Microsoft and a retired Marine Corps major general. “ESP models the entire world and will allow Lockheed Martin’s developers to easily add their own content, objects, scenery, simulation functionality and scenarios to create custom training solutions."
