Use case: GROB
Mobile device fleet management for pilot training systems
The challenge
Established in 1971, GROB Aircraft is one of the world’s largest and most experienced composite aircraft manufacturers. Since it’s conception, Grob has delivered more than 3500 aircraft and flown over seven million flight hours across five continents. Their product range has evolved from pioneering gliders of the 70s, the record-breaking high-altitude aircraft of the 80s and 90s to today’s state-of-the-art business jets, special mission aircraft and pilot training systems.
As part of their ethos to implement the highest standards of cutting-edge technology, Grob developed a Computer Based Training (CBT) system used as a standard training method to provide consistent, high-quality training each time they deliver an Aircraft. Our M3 Platform is the vehicle to their CBT system.
Grob CBT Training system is wide-spread across their customer base. When Grob integrated our M3 Platform with their CBT Training System they enabled a full portable device management solution for their customers. This integrated solution is already deployed in Ethiopian Airforce, Bangladesh Airforce, Swedish Airforce, Equador Airforce and the German Airforce. Given the military-nature of these customers, Grob’s installation was particular insofar as their requirement for all platforms to work offline. This called for unique development and integration of a special dashboard that functions offline while running straight on the platform. Without access to internet, M3 Solutions developed work-around methods for updates requiring internet, for instance, a windows patch update.
Initially, Grob launched their CBT Training system using a personal device model where each user would bring their own device to launch and perform training. When feedback came back that the personal device model was too cumbersome to manage, Grob initiated the switch to a shared model which kickstarted their search for a partner to facilitate this approach. Our partnership enabled guaranteed readiness, access and security of the devices used for their CBT system.
Today GROB uses the M3 Platform to provide synchronized, up to date devices for pilot students to perform training and up-to-date technical publications of the aircraft for technicians to perform maintenance and repair operations.
Key Benefits
- Manage the tablet hardware
- Physically secure device
- Charge device and prepare it for the next user
- Manage content:
- Automatic OS Update
- Training and MRO technical publication update
- Windows patch update
- Synchronization of mission data when implemented
- Device reporting: who is using the device, when and for long
Grob initiated the switch to a shared model which kickstarted their search for a partner to facilitate this approach. Our partnership enabled guaranteed readiness, access and security of the devices used for their CBT system.
What’s next?
Our future with Grob is powerful: we are looking at providing a docking system within the aircraft to use the tablet from the platform within the cockpit, to synchronize mission plans to execute practice missions and to upload data from the mission once completed.