The Singapore Police Force (SPF) and HTX have developed, and are currently testing out, a training system known as the Enhanced Live Firing Range System (ELFRAS) that is aimed at enhancing firearm training delivery. The system uses multiple sensors and analytics to improve the shooting performance of officers undergoing firearm training. This is also in line with the Home Team’s (HT) drive to better leverage technology to enhance learning outcomes for HT officers.
2 The sensors capture human factors such as weapon handling, breathing, shooting posture, gaze fixation and visual alignment. An embedded Advance Performance Enhancement & Analysis Range System (APEARS) software analyses data collected through these sensors and provides real time recommendations to help improve the officer’s subsequent shots.
3 The features of the sensors are as follow:
a. Weapon Handling. A sensor attached to the weapon tracks the movement of the weapon before, during and after the trigger is pulled. It also identifies trigger pulling techniques applied by the officer.
b. Breathing. A sensor, fixed at the shooting lane, tracks and shows whether the officer’s breathing technique affects the movement of his weapon while firing.
c. Gaze Fixation. A sensor in the form of a pair of spectacles, tracks the officer’s eyes during firing, including whether the officer focuses on his aiming or blinks his eyes while firing.
d. Shooting Posture.A body posture camera, fixed at the shooting lane, captures the officer’s body movement and compares it against the recommended shooting postures.
4. The Human Factors and Simulation Centre of Expertise (HFS CoE) of HTX worked with SPF to identify the full spectrum of performance-related human factors indices and to define the engineering design to instrument the shooting lane with these sensors. Ying Meng Fai, Acting Director of the HFS CoE said, “The system provides information on the shots and real-time analysis of human factor indices such as weapon handling, breathing, shooting posture, and visual alignment. This way, timely and targeted feedback can be provided to the officers to improve their proficiency.”
5 The one-of-its-kind ELFRAS system also features a target sensor system that performs automated scoring, captures and displays the location where each shot lands on the target board in real time. This information, together with recommendations generated by the APEARS software, is presented on display panels placed beside and above the officer, to provide both officer and trainer immediate insights on the shooting performance. This allows the trainer to provide comprehensive and timely guidance to the officer. The team has also designed an intuitive ‘one glance’ user interface for ELFRAS which enables the trainer and trainee to rapidly visualise and mitigate critical performance gaps.
6 Beyond this, the ELFRAS tactically deploys sensors to pick up minute physiological human factors, which could affect the accuracy of shots. Dr Saravana Kumar, Deputy Director of HFS CoE and the Project Manager of ELFRAS said, “A sensor attached to the weapon measures if the officer is handling his weapon correctly for maximum accuracy. The system also has a breathing sensor to inform the officer of any body- or breathing-related movements as well as posture detection cameras to determine if the correct firing posture is adopted by the officer.”
7 Superintendent Joseph Yoong, Head of the Instructional Technology Division of the SPF Training and Capability Development Department, and member of the ELFRAS project team, said, “As part of our efforts to be a learning force with world class training, the Singapore Police Force leverages technology, such as ELFRAS during firearms training, to enhance our training delivery and effectiveness, so as to better prepare our officers for their work at the frontline.”
8 Currently, the project is undergoing a trial at the Home Team Academy live firing range. The trial which started in June 2020 is expected to end in February 2021. The trial is conducted with selected officers undergoing pistol and revolver training. In addition to soliciting qualitative feedback from officers and trainers, the team is also analysing the shooting performance of officers in the test group vis-a-vis officers in the control group. If the trial results are favourable, ELFRAS could be used by frontline officers in other Home Team departments.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE & HTX (HOME TEAM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY)
25 OCTOBER 2020 @ 6.00 PM
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