2014 Intel Solutions Summit
INTEL CHANNEL
CARES AWARD
Computer maker working with Intel and the U.S.
Army Tactical Command uses advanced visualization
technology to inspire a new generation of engineers
Rave Computer wins the 2014 Intel Channel Cares
Award for its role in the RAVE CAVE project, which
makes state-of-the-art visualization technology
accessible to industry and educators.
Challenge >
While advances in simulation technology can make some manufacturing design projects possible,
the expense can make it unattainable. The initial capital outlay for the equipment needed for a fully
immersive visualization system can be measured in the millions, and that doesn’t include costs for
operating or maintaining the technology, or keeping it up to date. This means that most of the time,
only the very largest manufacturers have access to the benefits of this technology.
Solution >
Founded in 1988, Rave Computer is a consultant and
computer manufacturer providing custom-engineered
solutions to their commercial and military customers.
When one of their customers, the Army Tactical Command
(TACOM), mentioned that they had a Reconfigurable
Automated Virtual Environment (RAVE) system on the
base that wasn’t being fully utilized, Rave Computer signed
a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
(CRADA) with the U.S. Army to put it to use.
those vehicles. RAVE CAVE brings a technical capability
within reach of these businesses that previously was
only available to the largest OEMs.” When it’s not in use
by TACOM or local businesses, rather than sitting idle,
RAVE CAVE puts its virtual environment to work as a
technology showcase for the public. The facility is made
available to local charities for fundraising events, and the
RAVE CAVE staff holds public demonstrations to raise
awareness about the technology.
The RAVE CAVE is a full-sized, four-sided, room that
utilizes four high-end Christie projectors and optical
trackers. The RAVE CAVE is supported by a five-system
supercomputing cluster that hosts multiple highcompute, graphics-intensive simulation and visualization
applications related to the medical, engineering, design,
manufacturing, and architectural industries.
But perhaps the most exciting community service
RAVE CAVE has provided has been its use in inspiring
local students to pursue careers in science, technology,
engineering, and math. Rave Computer Vice President of
Corporate Relationships, Doris Block-Tomlinson, offered
an example of how she worked with the local chapter of
the Women in Defense (WID) organization to arrange a
RAVE CAVE tour for young women from five local school
districts.
TACOM donated the RAVE shell with its projectors and
tracking cameras. Rave Computer donated the engineering
and design time to update the RAVE CAVE, as well as the
operating systems and the computers. Intel got involved
too: The cluster powering the RAVE CAVE uses four Intel®
Core™ i7-3970X Extreme Edition Processors and one Intel®
Xeon® Processor E5-1660 – all donated by Intel, with plans
to donate upgrades when it is needed.
Brought up to current technology standards and staffed
by Rave Computer, RAVE CAVE is seeing lots of use. For
about 20 percent of its time, it is used by TACOM for
activities such as software evaluation and testing. Much of
the rest of the RAVE CAVE time is spent providing valuable
visualization and design simulations to local businesses
and for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
related tours and student education. “We’re located in
Michigan, the epicenter of where a lot of the country’s
ground vehicle design manufacturing happens, both
commercial and military,” said Rave Computer President
and CEO, Rick Darter. “In addition to large OEMs like Ford
and GM and Defense contractors like General Dynamics
and BAE, there are many tier 1 thru tier X companies that
supply engineering services or build components for
“There was a tremendous amount of interest, and the
results were very positive,” said Block-Tomlinson. “First
we gave them access to a real military vehicle to climb
through, and then we brought them to the RAVE CAVE
to show them a simulation of the same vehicle.”
Every student involved in the event was asked for her
opinion, and every one of them said they’d found it very
interesting. “Several of the kids said that after seeing
this technology, now they’re interested in pursuing
engineering careers,” Block-Tomlinson said. “The only
complaint we’ve gotten is, since we created this event
for girls, now the boys want to come and see the RAVE
CAVE, too.” Needless to say, more events are planned for
the coming year, so the boys will get their chance.
Learn more about 2014 Intel Solutions
Summit winners and the benefits of
being an Intel® Technology Provider at
www.intel.com/technologyprovider
Intel® Technology Provider
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