Simulation anytime and anywhere
– how does it work?
By using new cloud technology to de-liver
traditional simulation training in a
new way, K-Sim Connect enables stu-dents
to run simulators on their own
devices anytime and anywhere and at
their own pace. By allowing the same
simulators to be accessible, unrestrict-ed
by the simulator center premises or
opening hours, it significantly increases
the usability of the existing K-Sim prod-uct
portfolio. Since the same familiar
simulators are being used, this pro-vides
a huge benefit for instructors and
schools since all developed exercises as
well as training material developed to
meet the curriculum can be used with
absolutely no modifications.
The instructor simply logs into the K-Sim
Connect portal to select suitable
exercises and assign them to the class
of students. The instructor can assign
free-play exercises that the student
can use for repeated training or as-sign
scheduled exercises for testing. As
the students progress, instructors can
monitor the performance and results
of each student to provide individual
guidance and support. The students
similarly log into K-Sim Connect to find
the exercises assigned to them, with
guidance, training objective and dead-lines.
With a single click, the students
can start the simulations. Students will
also have access to past simulations
and performance results.
For the tech-savvy reader, the solution
is based on the latest technology infra-structure.
Students simply install an app
on their laptop and log in to let the sys-tem
manage the technical orchestration.
Once done, the student simply launches
cloud simulators in a Kubernetes cloud
cluster from K-Sim Connect, and the
app will work seamlessly under the hood
to install and launch for clients as re-quired
to give a smooth simulation ex-perience.
The technical solution earned
Kongsberg international recognition by
Microsoft when introduced in 2018.
By the end of 2019, the first three sim-ulators
were made available for cloud
simulation. These are all based on the
renowned K-Sim Engine and K-Sim
Cargo product range, namely the K-Sim
Engine MAN B&W 5L90MC VLCC 11-V
model, K-Sim Cargo SCCII Suezmax
crude carrier and the K-Sim Thermal
Power Plant (TPP) simulator. Additio
al simulators are scheduled for cloud
availability in 2020.
Digital services
We envision a growing portfolio of ser-vices
in K-Sim Connect. The services will
vary in size and specialization: some will be
used by everyone, and some for special
needs. In general, there will be four areas
of services related to the community, to
simulation, and to content development.
The community services will focus
on the instructor’s daily work, includ-ing
managing and organizing students,
simulation assignments and exercises.
This will also include news updates,
information and the potential for in-structors
to collaborate. The simula-tion
services will be focused on running
simulators efficiently and include, for
instance automated software updates,
connected simulators and cloud simula-tion.
The content developer services will
facilitate and support the development
and distribution of new content. Kongs-berg
will offer tools for development,
access to our systems for deployment
and quality and also distribution.
Rethinking the business model
Along with a growing K-Sim Connect
user group and service availability on
the platform, new business models will
emerge. The traditional business model
of purchasing, owning and running your
own simulator is ready for an over-haul.
Specifically, for smaller schools
and commercial training centers it may
be hard to justify large investments in
simulation equipment and having dedi-cated
employees handling the techni-cal
operation of the simulators. When
simulation can be delivered as a service,
running the infrastructure is no longer
required on the premises.
Moving the operation of simulation to
the cloud allows Kongsberg Digital to
take over this responsibility from the
individual school or training center, so
that instructors can stay focused on
their core activity of education. The
service of offering cloud simulation will
in the future be subscription and lease-based.
Hence, the need for employing
one’s own technical resources is re-duced,
and the risks posed by using old
computer equipment is eliminated.
Become a member now
K-Sim Connect supports K-Sim simula-tors
and products together with all our
users in a comprehensive ecosystem. We
now invite all KONGSBERG simulator us-ers
to become members of the commu-nity.
As a member you will be the first to
learn about the new advancements and
services as they are created, and you are
also invited to start contributing towards
building the platform togheter with us.
No one knows for sure how tomorrow’s
education and training will take shape,
but through K-Sim Connect we are sure
that we will be able to deliver it. This pro-cess
starts at www.ksimconnect.com.
PHOTO: K-Sim Connect enables students to train
anytime and anywhere, repeating difficult aspects
while learning at their own pace. This will reduce
time spent at training centers and enable better
utilization of instructor-based simulation training.
THE MARITIME SIMULATION NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 5
/www.ksimconnect.com
