Expodefensa 2025 – Multimodal System, the Colombian Tactical Simulator

The Military Cadet School (ESMIC), the training centre for future officers of the Colombian National Army, is present at Expodefensa 2025, the defense exhibition held every two years in Bogota. Its science, technology, and innovation office is showcasing a tactical simulator known as Multimodal System. This project aims to train combatants in different scenarios, monitoring their neural reactions to the various stimuli they will encounter in the virtual immersion

The head of ESMoIC’s research department reports that this project has gone through four stages. In the first stage, the system was designed, and the corresponding equipment was acquired, such as the special treadmill, virtual reality headsets, computers, and the generic rifle for the combatant. In the second phase, once everything was integrated, tests were carried out and details were refined.

The third phase is about to begin, and will involve collaboration with neuroscience experts from the University of the Andes (Colombia) to properly interpret the data generated by the electroencephalogram sensors that measure the combatant’s neural reactions. The fourth and final phase is expected to produce an algorithm that will allow for the automatic interpretation of this data.

This system is the product of the intellectual and professional contributions of many people, notably a group of Colombian commandos with extensive experience in operations and real combat. Their input has been key to developing and improving the virtual immersion and the design of the scenarios.

Finally, it is worth highlighting that the system allows for the integration of multiple stations, which may or may not be in the same geographic location. This allows for the training of an individual combatant, or the integration of several stations so that an infantry squad or platoon can train together, carrying out different types of missions in various scenarios.

Photos by D. Hernández